Another Year Gone By

I can not believe that another school year has already gone by. I actually just completed my fifth year at Forest Hills. It seems like only yesterday that I was starting my first "real" job.
You know I wish I could try to sum up the year in one short blog, but I think I would begin to bore the few readers I have left. I will say it was definitely a wonderful year. We never have a dull moment down in "our house." It is sad that two of my boys will be moving on next year, but we have the promise of new ones that will change our lives. I always try to reflect on the year and I do pray that I made some difference in just one of their lives this year. I know what a difference they make in my own life, so I hope I return that favor.
This last month has been so hectic with end of the school year activities, Fighting Falcons fundraisers and fighting off sickness. I am ready for some relaxing. I have already had a nice enjoyable weekend. I always enjoy the last day of school because Tracy and I usually spend the afternoon cleaning out and getting her things ready for next year. we even took the time to relax a bit at Fiesta. I was able to relax Saturday and today I spent a nice day at church hanging out with lots of friends.
You all know I am of course not one to sleep late and be idle for too long. Do not get me wring I enjoy lounging around the house, but it takes me a while to wind down. I am working two days a week for the month of June. I will be teaching Extended School Year. I am looking forward to it. I have also got lots of fundraising and training to keep me busy. I do hope t relax by the pool and read a couple dozen books. I weird though because by next week I will ready to get started on a new school year. I truly begin to miss it all.

Song for Thought

I do not know how many of you have heard the song "if today Was Your Last Day" by Nickelback, but that song keeps popping in my head this week. I first thought about it during Meredith's monologue on Grey's the other night (which I could devote a whole other blog to0 and then I heard it today. This song can really make you think. It makes me think about how I should live my life, but also makes me regret how I live my life. I neglect those who are close to me. I take advantage that they will always be around, so I often do not treat them like I should. I am a lot like Meredith Grey in that I rarely tell people close to me how much I love them. I also keep up with those friends who are far away. I truly regret I never see any of them, but even more that I hardly talk to them. As cheesy as it sounds I am thankful for facebook in that I can catch up with people. Seriously though, what if today was your last day? What would you do? I have no idea what I would do I if I knew it was my last day, but I do know I should live each day like it was my last. From this day I should remember how I much I love those I see each day and those who are far away. I should treat those around me with the respect they deserve . Read these lyrics below and think about what if today was your last day.

Nickelback - If Today Was Your Last Day Lyrics

My best friend gave me the best advice
He said each day’s a gift and not a given right
Leave no stone unturned, leave your fears behind
And try to take the path less traveled by
That first step you take is the longest stride

If today was your last day and tomorrow was too late
Could you say goodbye to yesterday?
Would you live each moment like your last?
Leave old pictures in the past
Donate every dime you have?
If today was your last day

Against the grain should be a way of life
What’s worth the prize is always worth the fight
Every second counts ’cause there’s no second try
So live like you’ll never live it twice
Don’t take the free ride in your own life

If today was your last day and tomorrow was too late
Could you say goodbye to yesterday?
Would you live each moment like your last?
Leave old pictures in the past
Donate every dime you have?
Would you call old friends you never see?
Reminisce of memories
Would you forgive your enemies?
Would you find that one you’re dreamin’ of?
Swear up and down to God above
That you finally fall in love
If today was your last day

If today was your last day
Would you make your mark by mending a broken heart?
You know it’s never too late to shoot for the stars
Regardless of who you are
So do whatever it takes
‘Cause you can’t rewind a moment in this life
Let nothin’ stand in your way
Cause the hands of time are never on your side

If today was your last day and tomorrow was too late
Could you say goodbye to yesterday?
Would you live each moment like your last?
Leave old pictures in the past
Donate every dime you have?
Would you call old friends you never see?
Reminisce of memories
Would you forgive your enemies?
Would you find that one you’re dreamin’ of?
Swear up and down to God above
That you finally fall in love
If today was your last day

Walk for Life

This was a decent week. I honestly have to say that things are so crazy I can only remember about half of my week. I finally had my last relay day. Needless to say the kindergarten one is my least favorite. Why, you ask? Well the major reason is it takes an hour long to finish and it always seems like it is cold when I have to go to it. I thin Sam enjoyed himself though, so I guess that is all that matters.

The highlight of the week was our Walk for Life (which I will discuss in a bit). We also wrapped up our Bank Independent Challenge. The four Florence branches raised over a $1100. A special thanks goes out to the Darby Drive branch who raised almost a $1000. also the Florence Square branch did quite well. A small group of us got to hang out and sell some drinks during the show choir performance. It was a nice relaxing fundraiser. Anyway the Walk. It was our biggest fundraiser so far...not counting t-shirt sales. We had close to a hundred people who showed up to walk. We raised over $3500. It was neat to watch the people walking through Forest Hills neighborhood. I can only imagine what it is going to be like for us in Atlanta. I was so thrilled we had a few survivors show up for the walk. Finally it was humbling to see all the balloons released at the end of the walk. This event truly makes you realize that all the hard work that comes into getting ready for this 3 Day is DEFINITELY well worth it!!!

H&!! Week

The weekend and week after Special Olympics was CRAZY busy!!! That weekend I had to chop up candy and cookies for the Ice Cream Sundae the Fighting Falcons were having that following week. Each of us try to be in charge of one major fundraiser...that was mine. On Monday I had to spend the afternoon buying enough ice cream to serve three hundred people. Tuesday was the Open House. I had never really been too involved at our schools open houses. It just so happened this one turned out to e one of the biggest. The PTO had a hot dog supper and show choir performed. The Fighting Falcons had the ice cream sundaes, t-shirts on sale and more of our art by Jerry Foster that we have been auctioning off. Here are just a few pics of that night.

Thank goodness we had some Zeta girls that came out to help. We could not have done it without them

. We all had to scoop out the ice cream then we separated for our other jobs. Nicole and Donna had to sell our shirts up against the PTO's superstore. Jan, Jessica and Juanita sold the art. Thankfully Jessica also was our official dishwasher.

This is some of the art that has been donated by Florence High School art teacher Jerry Foster.

The next day after Open House I had to leave bright and early to go on a field trip with the second grade. We went to the Botanical Gardens in Huntsville. Right now they are having this large bug exhibit all over the gardens. Their were these huge statues of bugs everywhere. The botanical Gardens was a beautiful place. It is just hard to enjoy something like that while keeping your eye on four children in different classes throughout the area. Oh and I should mention it would go from bright sunshine to pouring down rain in a matter of minutes. You could tell we were in the South that day. Here a few pics from the day. I hate you cant see more of the kids.

We also did a little catch and release fishing while we were there. The fish were microscopic.

The week ended with our third Kid's Night Out. Despite the terrible weather that night we had a great turn out. I think the kids enjoyed the dance party in the lunchroom the most..you have to something to do in the rain when you can't play on the playground. Most of my kids at the climbing wall just wanted to relax.

Special Olympics

Again I know I am a little late, but I am just trying to catch up on my blog. I have been so occupied with other stuff lately, I just have not had time to post.

On April 24, 2009 we had twelve children participate in Special Olympics n Muscle Shoals. We were fortunate enough to have several high school students who volunteered to help the children at the event. We had a sweet send off at our school before participating in the parade in Muscle Shoals. The children absolutely love this day. They like participating in the events as much as they like playing in the fun tens. I also really enjoy this day. One highlight of this year's event was seeing a true smile appear on one of my student's face. I wish I could post lots of pics, but I try to respect the privacy of my students, so I will only post some where the child is in-cog-nito.

If you have never been to Special Olympics or even volunteered you really should check out your local chapters and consider attending one of their events You will walk away humbled.

28

The second perfect number (6 is first), days in February, human teeth (excluding wisdom teeth, maximum number of games an NBA or NHL team can play, number of days Sandra Bullock stayed in rehab in the movie 28 days or the easiest answer the number of years I have been on this Earth.
I could reminisce like an older person and talk about the good ole days, but I won't. I will at least say in the short amount of time I have been here a lot has happened. I have seen wars, shuttle explosions, school shootings, diseases overtaking lives, and terrorism, at its absolute worst. I can say I will always remember those important dates in history, what I was doing and who I was with. I have experienced the death threw accident and disease, but I have been blessed by the miracle of life. I have watched friends suffer through cancer and saw others become survivors. I have had to experience the death of a student but also the joy seeing the some of them accomplish things we never though possible.
I personally have talked, crawled, walked and overcome disability. I survived school all the way to getting a Master's degree. I have been able to work in a job that I love more and more each day. I have been blessed by wonder family and irreplaceable friends. I have traveled all over this country and met some interesting people. It is my pray that I will be able to continue all these wonderful experiences and watch my circle of family and friends grow. I wish I could say I hope to never experience the bad stuff again, but I am a realist I know that life as to have hard times otherwise it wouldn't be life. I know I will eternally have good times as long as I can live right on this Earth.
So, I am a little late in my post because my birthday was over two weeks ago. I am an Earth Day baby..I guess that is were I get that environmentalist side of me. I did at least want to share that I enjoyed a wonderful day.
the day began with celebrating with all my wonderful friends at work. we had a great lunch and a delicious strawberry cake. That afternoon I spent time with Sam and Eli. I tried to teach Sam how to play soccer...he is a quick learner. Tracy and the boys came over later. I always enjoy getting to play soccer with Grant and Benjamin on my birthday. I look forward to it every year. I didn't really want to go out to eat (because I had to watch baseball) so the Sweatt's, Wear's, Garrett's and Missie came over to eat dinner. It was a nice low key day..those are my favorite. I can't wait for the next 28 years.