Posts

Showing posts from 2011

Hot Chocolate Day in R-214

Image
Several weeks ago, the first cold day of the season, I mentioned to my students how a cup of hot chocolate & a fresh doughnut would hit the spot. An idea was born, and volunteers from each period organized the "event".  I made hot chocolate all day & students supplied the eats. One of my first period girls brought in a toaster & some toaster waffles with all the fixings. Lovely! A good time was had by all.  I had my picture taken but didn't take any, too busy making hot chocolate. Oh well, next year.  This was such a hit, I think I'll do this again, different menu, right before Spring Break.

Best Thing That Happened to Me All Day

Image
My friend Connie was waiting for me when I got home from work. (How did she know that it was a discouraging day???) A lovely Pumpkin Spice scented candle was waiting for me in a beautiful gift bag with cheerful paper. (How did she know I adore Pumpkin Spice????)  Obviously, Connie has connections!!!

Tonight's Thoughts About God

Image
MACS 1206 lies 4.5 billion light-years from Earth Each of the "lights" is a separate galaxy, like unto our Milky Way. Moses 1: 8 " And it came to pass that Moses looked, and beheld the world upon which he was created; and Moses beheld the world thereof and the ends thereof, and all the children of men which are, and were created; of the same he greatly marveled and wondered." Moses 1: 33  "And worlds without number have I created; and I also created them for mine own purpose; and by the Son I created them, which is mine Only Begotten. Verse 35 "But only an account of this earth, and the inhabitants thereof, give I unto you. For behold, there are many worlds that have passed away by the word of my power. And there are many that now stand, and innumerable are they unto man; but all things are numbered unto me, for they are mine and I know them. I read a story in the Ensign about a returned missionary that became inactive in the gospel because he on

Turning 55

Image
My 55th birthday was a quiet day. I picked up a letter from Miles at the post office. He had no way of knowing that earlier that morning I had been cleaning up in the kitchen and wondering if my children remembered me playing with them or reading to them.  In his letter he listed several memories of things from his childhood that brought him happiness. The gift of remembering is a great gift to a parent. Thank you Miles for the very sweet gift. I will always treasure the letter. I opened and read the letter while in the post office. I pondered how I might save it so that it will never be lost.  I need to work on how to save my most precious possessions. I'm still considering how this might be done, and I don't have the answer just yet. I got phone calls from everyone. Ann and David are in Virginia, while John is in China. John & I "skyped" tonight. They are all happy and healthy. I thank God for the technology that makes it possible for families to s

A Tiger is Born

Image
Women are amazing. My daughter Ann is amazing. After being in labor for over 12 hours, her water finally broke in the evening. We headed off to the hospital where she continued with labor from 8 pm to about 2 am in the morning when she finally asked for pain medication. They gave her an epidural that didn't take, and then they gave her another. Ann's and the baby's blood pressure dropped. They finally decide to induce her labor.  David and I stood by Ann's side and helped her push by supporting her legs. She pushed for several hours. The head was delivered but the shoulders were not. The doctor reached in and pulled Jonathan's shoulders with a twisting motion. Jonathan was born around 8 am the next day. His lip and eye were bruised, and his head was elongated from the struggle to be born. When his shoulders were delivered, we could see that the umbilical cord was wrapped tightly around his neck. The doctor slipped his fingers between Jonathan's neck and the cord

Finding My Inner Girl

Image
The top of Carriage Trail at Mulberry Creek I bought a $40 bike at a yard sale last weekend. I took it for a spin this weekend. I have say I was more than a little scared. I know that sounds ridiculous, but I was twenty-one when I last rode a bike. What if I ran into someone, fell off, broke something? Nevertheless, I summoned the courage of my inner child, put the bike in the back of my toy car and headed off to Mulberry Creek Park.  I've never ventured onto the Carriage Trail & have been curious about it for a long time. The .66 mile hike from the Miller Lake side of the trail is very steep, & uphill all the way to the top. I only saw six other people on the trail, all on foot. One girl was jogging. Carriage Trail leads to a beautiful meadow and another smaller lake on the other side of a substantial hill. I pushed my bike all the way up & rode around the meadow restoration area & rode the bike back down and around Miller Lake. My inner child was very pleased

Baby Watch, 6-14-11 Nature and History Walks

Image
Lauren Ann & I have played the part of tourists while waiting for little Jonathan to arrive.  We've walked nearly every day.  Here's a photojournal of our travels:  Storm in the Distance, View from Lookout  View from Blue Ridge Parkway Buena Vista in the Valley Below  View Looking Down at Panther Creek Falls  Pool to the Right of the Falls  View Donward from the Falls  Collapsed Rock Bridge at the Falls  Rock Carving of an Outcrop to the Right of the Falls Lovely Wildflower with Intricate Chevron Patterned Petals <> Beautiful Winged Insect that Resembles a Dragonfly Stonewall Jackson's Family Plot, Lexington Virginia

Baby Watch, June 2011

Image
 Maury River  Chestee Trail  Due Date Tomorrow  Buena Vista Resident  Stonewall Jackson's Pew   I arrived in Buena Vista, Virginia on Wednesday, June 8, 2011. Lauren & David are completely prepared to receive Jonathan, who is due on the 11th.  Lauren began to have contractions spaced 12 minutes apart yesterday evening, but they subsided around 9 PM. We've walked 4 miles along the the flood wall that borders the river running through the town on Thursday morning.  This morning we walked along the Chestee Trail that cuts through pasture land winding along the river.  Lauren took a nap until lunchtime.  We drove into Lexington and visited a museum at VMI, walked downtown, and browsed in local shops. There are several galleries, antique shops, eateries, and churches downtown. We went in the old Monmouth Church, now the 1st Presbyterian Church, where Stonewall Jackson had pew.

Decisions, decisions...

Several of my children are at a crossroad. I can picture you looking to the left and right, measuring the distance of each path as well as it can be known, and puzzling over which path to take. I realized a few years ago that my parenting days were not over. It's still my duty to provide an assist without overstepping my boundaries. Several scripture stories about decision making immediately came to mind. Q: Does the Lord mind if we ask Him a specific question? A: No, not at all.  He stands at the door waiting to reveal His mind to us. Laman and Lemuel frequently used the excuses that the Lord made no such thing (fill-in-the-blanks) known unto us. While the ever faithful Nephi reminded them of the possibility of having certain knowledge.  "Do ye not remember the things which the Lord hath said?—If ye will not harden your hearts, and ask me in faith, believing that ye shall receive, with diligence in keeping my commandments, surely these things shall be made known unto you.&

Working Out...Finding my Inner Jock

Image
There was a time when I could bicycle for miles, hike the Appalachians, scale vertical cliffs, and swim several miles each week in the college pool. I know that person was me. What happened to her?????? I'm not going to make excuses...life happened!  Anyways, I get a glimpse of her during spinning class. The guy next to me said, "Way to go, I was trying to keep up with you."  I was surprised by his comment. I said thanks & that I really love spinning class. I just get into some zone & pedal as fast/hard as I can back to a time when I weighed 114 pounds. Even if I weighed 114 pounds now, I would still have gray hair, and wrinkles around the eyes.  I suppose I would be a very fit grandmother.  That would be a very good thing. I think that youth is wasted on young people. They don't appreciate it! Oh well, the girl is still in here somewhere, spinning to get out...

Mother's Day, 2011

Image
Mother's Day keeps getting better and better. Growing older has its perks, namely grandchildren.  My lovely children are having children of their own. Lauren Ann and David are expecting Jonathan in early June, and Jimmy & Bradie are expecting their second baby in mid-November. I've been blessed with wonderful children whose good lives fill me with joy. Eleanor Marie & me, Mother's Day, 2011  Bradie, Ellie, Ashlyn, 2011