Happy Birthday, Marty

Today is my husband's birthday! Yea! We are having a party for him today, as we did for him last night. (Sounds like he is a kid again.) You see, our children are busy and are not able to get together all at the same time. It's great to see them, but doubling the work is a little overkill. I simplified one part by not assembling the Oreo Ice Cream Cake. Instead of making it and freezing the dessert, I set out the ingredients, and let each one dip his or her own. Less work and better results!! The kids and I also enjoyed roasted marshmallows over the fire pit. We used those gigantic ones, the ones that are 4x the size of normal ones. I had chocolate squares that we broke apart and pushed inside the gooey mess. Yum! Come to think of it, I will enjoy the party all over again today!! Thanks, hubby, for your birthday.

Toots's First Field Trip

My granddaughter, Toots, who is in kindergarten, was so excited after school yesterday. She got to go on a FIELD TRIP!! All of the kindergartners in the corporation met at one school to get their eyes tested. She was excited to see some of her friends that go to different schools and some of the teachers from my school. If she got this excited about the FIELD TRIP, just wait till they actually go somewhere.

Go Fish! Your Memory

When we ate last at Wendys, my granddaughter, Toots, received a Where's Waldo Memory Game. We have had hours of enjoyment playing the original intent of the game as well as the variations created by Toots. Did you know you can play Go Fish with those cards? I didn't either, but we played anyway, even if it is not right. The "playing" was the goal.

The Passing of an Old Friend

A dear friend of mine is ill and near to expiring. She has been with me through the rough times. She has dealt with my dirt, faithfully. I knew she was having problems. I tried to console her, but she wept, wept all over the floor. I bandaged her numerous times, but with limited success. She cries from both sides now. Perhaps I will cry when she leaves my laundry room soon. She has been my faithful friend. She will not be lonely though, because we are sending her mate to be with her. Hope she doesn't catch a glimpse of my new friends, the ones I'm buying their friendship with real money. In time, they, too, will become my faithful friends. (Thanks to Laurie for the post idea, and thanks to my washer. May you rest in peace.)

Will They Light Up the Ground?

Toots, my granddaughter, is selling items for her school's fundraiser. One of the items is flower bulbs. Of course you don't say flower bulbs, just bulbs. When her mommy read off bulbs, Toots was excited. She asked if they really grew lights?!?! Too cute and just like Amelia Bedelia, the maid who takes everything literally. Toots will really enjoy that series of books. (Maybe that's how people get those lights along their sidewalks.)

Busy, Busy, Tiring, Successful Week

You would think that week four of school would be easy, but it was not. Seems like we do not have a spare moment. I have even been teaching during our bathroom wait. (For those who don't know, we have one set of bathrooms for almost 300 kids. So we spend a lot of time standing in line, waiting our turn.) Some of the students are ready to be in school and ready to learn. While others will take a little while to join us. (Hope it is soon!)

I had one of my students invite me to church with him this week. That was rather special. He knows that I am a Christian, and he felt comfortable enough to invite me. I already had something at my church, but I told him that I would go with him sometime. A classmate overheard our conversation and asked what church and where. He wants to come. So the first boy wrote out the information for him. The sun is rising.

Great Is Thy Faithfulness

We sang this great hymn at church yesterday. One of my favorites, especially to sign for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing service. As I looked out on the crowd, I saw that the hymn was a favorite of many others. I enjoy the new songs/praise hymns, but they can't touch this hymn. Maybe it is because some of us have so many memories attached to the song, so many examples of God's great faithfulness through it all. Thanks, Ryan for including this powerful hymn.

Mrs. S, This Is Your Child's Teacher

Well, Toots, my granddaughter, made it 11 days in kindergarten before a call from her teacher. Seems Toots's scissors found their way into another girl's hair. And when the teacher explains the assignment, someone bosses the children around to tell them how to do the work. Hmmmm. Who could that someone be? Teacher asked what works for punishment. Parents answered, "If you find something, let us know." That would be funny, but it is the truth. Toots has so much to learn about life and how to live it harmoniously.