Sweet Music

On the drive to church yesterday, Toots was "reading" from her Bible. Since she loves to sing, she sang what she read. Here is how it goes: Oh, Jesus, My Father, please don't die again. Oh, Jesus, My Father, can you come back again? Pretty impressive for a child not yet 5 years old. We've been through the discussion that Jesus is not our Father, but she retorts sternly with, "Mimi, God and Jesus are the same!" Okay, no argument. On the way home from church she wanted me to read while I drove. (Usually she is bossing me to keep both hands on the wheel.) So at a red traffic light I looked up John 3:16 and passed it back. As I quoted it, she proclaimed that she KNEW that verse from VBS. And yes, she did have it in June. I think this child is ready for Bible Bowl!

A Night at Mimi"s

Toots spent the night with us last night. As we were saying our prayers and singing our songs at bedtime, I told her that she would be going to church with us in the morning. She looked up at me with a wide smile and sweetly said, "Thanks, Mimi." My heart melted.

Dedication and Determination

We have a group of kids at church that are on our Senior Bible Bowl team. The range in age from 6th grade through 12th grade. Our usual practice night is Monday, but some of the kids have other commitments and cannot come. But because they want to be in Bible Bowl and want to practice, the kids asked if anyone could come early on Sunday and practice with them. So as of this morning, several of these young children will arrive at church to begin practice at 7:00 a.m. Now that's dedication! That's going above and beyond the realm of reality for teenagers. Praise the Lord!

If My People...

Toots is attending a preschool where she knows some of the students, but out of 20, there are new faces. She received an invitation to a birthday party from one of the girls in her class. When daddy asked if she knew this girl, Toots answered, "No, she is not one of my people." Too funny. Daddy thinks that she means not one of the people who sit at her table of people. But then yesterday she admitted that she was moved into a row because she talked too much. I'm shocked! LOL

How to Print My Blog

Does anyone know if it is possible to print my nearly 700 entries? I would like to have it in print in a tangible book. I suppose I could print one page at a time, but that would be cumbersome as well as time consuming. What is opened on one page of my blog would take 8 pages to print. Any thoughts?

Open House

Our school is hosting an Open House tonight, two weeks into the start of the school year. Most schools have their Open House within the first couple of days from the start of school. We figured that by waiting we would catch those who are still going from one school to another or who have not even started the year yet. Anyway, it should be a lot of fun provided the air-conditioners will turn back on. They are programmed to go off as the children leave the building. Don't want to waste any of that energy on our hard-working teachers!

Hey, Mom, Can You Do This?

Not all tongues are created equal. Not everyone can make his/her tongue pointed. Not all tongues can be rolled. Not all tongues can touch their nearby nose. Okay, how many of these have you tried as you are reading this?

Beached Koi

I could come up with many titles and blogs about just this picture, and I blogged earlier this summer about it. Toots and I were out on the patio playing this summer when she noticed the fish out of the water. I was able to capture this shot, zoom in more, and save it. This fish and several others were somehow getting out on a rock to eat algae. This happened over and over. Never figured out if we have talented fish, too much algae, or undetermined destructive behavior.

Bacon, Bacon

Saw both of these phenomenons at the state fair. Actually, the huge, live pig looks much more appetizing than the chocolate covered bacon. Well, neither looked that great. But people were flocking to gawk and paying through the nose to taste.

Sculpting 101

Toots was here yesterday. Late afternoon she and her dad made a small sandcastle. She was so proud of it. Guess maybe it was her first-ever attempt. This is not it. And I was too tired to go back inside to get the camera.

Sick Day for Sure

Well, I am too ill to go to school today. That's me, on the left, feeling quite badly. I thought my chest congestion and coughing would be worse, and they are. Also running a fever. Don't want to go into detail, but it wouldn't be pleasant for any of us in my room today. Took me almost 30 minutes to finally get on the web site to secure a substitute for today. Technology is just...

Sick Day Already?

How can not taking one pill cause a sinus infection that has rapidly developed into bronchitis? Here it is the beginning of school, I should take the day off, but don't even have enough explanation written out for a substitute. I hate being sick:(

See All These Trees?

While taking a break from swimming Sunday, Toots, my granddaughter, began telling the group that squirrels hide nuts in the ground but don't remember where they put them. So the ones they can't find turn into trees. She then made a sweeping motion with her arm and told them to look at all the trees that had grown because the squirrels couldn't remember where they hid their nuts. Yeah, we kind of sat there, a little amazed, but also wondering where did that come from?

Empathy and Wisdom from a Child

I'm battling some nerve pain in my legs and am on various medications. It's been a little up and down with some days not so good. As we were driving to the state fair yesterday, my granddaughter, Toots, was talking ever so gently to me. She said, "Mimi, your face looks fabulous, but your eyes look sick." How did she get so wise?

You Are What You Eat

Would you be willing to eat in this restaurant if you saw this posted with the menu? While vacationing in California this summer, we saw this posted in numerous restaurants. While trying to get the snapshot of the poster, I was being watched by the chef on duty in the place. I was willing to explain that I had never seen this warning and that I was not going to hold him responsible, I was just curious. He didn't come after me though.

Back in School

Well, the kids came today! We had a full room with 21 in attendance. Everyone listened and got along rather well. I think this is going to be a great year!

Lunch Date

Monday I had a staff meeting all day at our school as we are preparing to open with kids on Thursday. We broke for lunch at 11:00, several groups going in several different directions. I was joining the group going for pizza when I noticed a sweet little face approaching the school doors. Toots and her dad had come to invite me to lunch. She wanted to take me to her favorite place to eat. So, I went with her. Just as we were finishing our meal, Toots turns to me and thanks me for allowing her to take me to lunch and pay for it. And my heart melted a little. Don't think the staff group would have said that.

Meet Minnie on Vacation

This is another shot I took at Disneyland for the sake of my granddaughter. The line to meet Minnie was very long and the temperature that day was much too hot. So I took this from afar, used the settings on the camera and brought it into a respectable shot. I have no idea who the small child is, but I just love the look on her face. She truly believes she is meeting the real character. If I were playing Minnie, I would gain so much satisfaction knowing what a difference I could make in a child's life by just being friendly.

But then that is the opportunity I have everyday at school as a teacher. I can make a difference in a child's life just by being friendly. And those opportunities begin this week!

Vacation Pictures

Remember that picture a few blogs back at the Sequoia National Park? The one from the 1960s with my family? Well, here is an updated one, this time with hubby, same park, same tree just many years later.

Meet the Star of the Pineapple

While in Southern California hubby and I were able to visit some of the major sites. We took in Universal World during one visit. While hubby was on a ride I waited in line to get my picture take with the one and only Sponge Bob. No, I am not a fan of the cartoon, but knew that my granddaughter would really like the picture. And of course she had all kinds of questions to ask me about Bob. Made the wait and the awkward hug worth it all.

Fashionista

When Toots, my granddaughter, came to see me yesterday, she was sporting her latest outfit that she assembled. She had on a black pencil skort, spaghetti strap top, real genuine fake pearls, and multicolored flip flops. She was quite the picture of which I didn't take unfortunately. You will just have to use my descriptive words to paint that one in your mind.

Just Call Me, Mimi

Since I have been sick, my granddaughter has been "helping" take care of me. When she left the other afternoon, she told me that if I needed anything, she would come right over and help me. She loves to check my forehead for a fever, stick the thermometer in my mouth, then pronounce that I do have a fever. She also likes to gently put my socks on my feet. She takes great care in making sure the top is on the top and the heel is turned just right. She also likes to snuggle up next to me on the couch. She is such a great nurse. Thanks, Toots!

Hair Growth Rate

Have I shared that hair grows much more rapidly in humid weather than in less humid? Wonder if those hair growing products for men/women actually work better here in humid Indiana than in states with less humidity? I'm sure that if they actually knew that and that their products work, they would certainly want to tout the news. I can see it now--to grow your hair even faster, move to that great humid state of Indiana. And the people would do just that!

Spending $ to Save $

After purchasing an item at Kroger's, I noticed that I was $10 short of having the 10 cents off gas qualifier and yesterday was the last day of the month. So my son-in-law made a trip into the store for me to spend the $10. He bought pretzels and bottled water. As he rang it up, it was $9.99. So he threw in a Snickers bar to reach the goal and to enjoy it himself. Feeling so proud of himself as he gathered the groceries, he was tapped on the shoulder by a man behind him who asked to use his Kroger card. The man spent enough to cover the $10. J had a good laugh about that. He said next time he will just stand in line offering the card to all takers.