Think Pink Bunco

Okay so it took me a week to actually post about it, but last Monday was my turn to host bunco. Since the 3 Day Walk is such a big part of my life this year I decided to have a "pink" themed bunco. Read carefully...I cooked...that is what I said...I cooked all pink food. We had pasta with pink sauce, shrimp, bread with pink butter, fruit (in the red pink color) with pink fruit dip, and of course a version of strawberry cake. The decorations were all pink...not "blush and bashful" but light pink. All of my prizes were things that donate money to breast cancer research. I think everyone had a great time...we always do. Everyone won went home with some kind of prize, so that is always a great night!1 Also a big thanks to all my bunco ladies for helping me reach my goal to walk 60 miles in Atlanta!!!!

May be I should have taken pictures of the food, but I doat least have some witnesses!!

10 years

Some of my readers may be thinking this is going to be some blog to reminisce about my high school days that ended ten years ago but I am not. I did consider blogging about life ten years later, but really i just have not wanted to blog lately. It is hard to believe that it has been ten years, but I am over high school. I want to talk about something more important.

Just ten years ago this week I had returned back from being at the beach for a couple of weeks and I was working in order to make some money before going to Maywood the next week. It was a Tuesday afternoon and my mom had picked me up in Winfield from work. I can remember we had small talk before she finally broke the news to me that Charlotte had cancer. I had known some people who had been diagnosed with cancer, but never someone so close to me. At the time it was like someone telling me that my own mother had been diagnosed. Ten years ago I had never head of colorectal cancer so it might as well have been a death sentence. I wanted to cry so badly...but Lacey does not cry. I finally felt a tear trickled down. My next thought was I have to call my partner in crime "sin." Rich had always called Alisha and myself Sin and Death (Paradise Lost reference). Then I wondered should I call Rich or what do I do. Email was coming a popular form of communication so after I cold not get her on the phone I tried to express my feelings through the WWW.

After a couple of days Alisha and I finally went to see Rich. It was a Thursday night and we just all tried to sit and talk about our beach trip, Rich's moving into her house anything until finally we broke the ice. I can still remember how scared I was. I was 18 I had not a clue how to talk to someone about something like this. In those days I expressed all my feelings in a letter, so as we left l gave Rich my letter, an angel and I think that is when I gave her the hope bear. Over the next few weeks I researched colorectal cancer (after all it was Charlotte who taught me how to research), cried and prayed. Also back in those days there were not as many people in Charlotte's corner as there are today. Now I say that not to be ugly, but looking back I do not remember the support system being as large. I think because of how she fought and the faith she has had is why now so many people look to her as inspiration.

Ten years ago I reluctantly left her behind as I went to college. I tried to keep in touch each day. I ran up the credit cards sending her flowers to brighten her toughest days...because don't flowers do that. In September of '99 I remember almost passing out at the hospital because I didn't know what to expect. I will be honest I prayed each day that she would be able to live.

Medicine and science have really came a long way in the last ten years. Charlotte has definitely been through it all. I could never believe either of the two have been as powerful as faith and prayer. Charlotte taught me so much over the last ten years. Now when I hear the word cancer I think more of hope than I do doom. I have never given up hope on her and I never will.

In the summer of 1999 I would have given anything to to help her out and I tried to be there every step of the way. Now in 2009, I still would do anything for her. I still pray each day for her and now I pray that I could only have half her faith and a little of her strength. Over the last ten years I know I have let her down. I have gradually pulled further away. I know a few years ago it was because I was afraid to get to close because I knew I would never make it if something happened to her. Now I have tried to become more a part of her life, but I know she has so many people who are present in her life each day that I seem like a fair weather friend.

I do want her to know that on this day every year I remember her more than most days. I remembered how I felt that day and how I know how much I loved and admired her that day and how much I still do each day. I wish I could remember what I wrote in that letter years ago, but I do know I have always expressed how much Hope I wanted her to have. I have said many times...hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul and sings a tune without the words and never stops at all.

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.