Time is Flying....

Wow, I can't believe how long it has been since I last posted on the blog. Life has been ....well ....life I suppose. Typical day to day routine that seems to slip by. I feel so behind this year. I don't have my Christmas shopping done yet, Christmas cards may not get sent, etc. My to do list just keeps growing. As the December things have come upon me this year, I kept thinking what I did last year. Then I realized not a whole lot, since early December last year was when I had my back surgery. Wow, a year already! A lot of things have happened in a year, for the good or the bad, but I'm thankful for each experience. Each thing has taught me something new about life and the importance of people around me. The older I get the more I realize that seeing my family and friends is more important to me than receiving gifts during the holidays. So if my Christmas cards turn into New Year Cards, or no cards at all, I want to wish all my family and friends a very Merry Christmas!!! May you have blessed season!

Frugal Living...

I know that everyone has their own definition of frugal living. Lately, I've been trying really hard to cut back on spending and finding resources to use to help us in this endeavor. I have found some great tools and blogs out there that have really helped me. I thought since I have found them helpful, maybe you will as well. So I would like to share some websites I have been using:

http://www.thriftyandchicmom.com/

http://mommainflipflops2.blogspot.com/

Even though I am not a mom, I have found some great giveaways, coupon deals, and offers on these sites. They have some great reviews on products.

http://theprudentpatron.com/

This site has really helped me to get freebies, as well as great deals for great prices. She shares freebies, coupons, weekly store deals, etc.

Swagbucks has been my recent tool to use online. It is a website where you earn points to cash in on prizes by mostly just doing your everyday searching. I thought it might take a lot of work, but it really doesn't. In particular I really like the gift cards, i.e. amazon, that you can use your points towards. I'm hoping this will help with my Christmas shopping this year. If you are interested in joining swagbucks for free. Click the image on the side of my page.

http://www.listia.com/

Is a site very similar to ebay, but it is free items. You earn points to list things, and then you can bid on other items. Some items do have shipping charges. It is a great way to get rid of items you don't need anymore, and get items you do need.

Well these are just few of the resources of have been using lately. Does anyone else have any they would like to share?

The Missing Piece...

I really enjoy putting together puzzles. So about a month ago, Josh and I dug out a puzzle that was in our closet that we bought probably a year ago. As you can see in the picture, it is fall themed, so I decided to give it a try. Josh started to work on it with me to get the border accomplished, then of course time got away. Work has been busy and so the puzzle has been sitting there....with the only changes being made to it by Mara, our cat. Today I decided it was a much needed day of rest. We have just been busy lately, and I needed a day to myself. I've relaxed today, did a bit of cleaning, and I decided it was now or never with the puzzle. So tonight, I worked really hard at finishing it. I got towards the end and realized that I may be missing a piece. Nothing worse than the feeling of missing just one puzzle piece. Luckily after doing some searching in the other room where I was working on it, I found it just under the couch!!! Hurray!!! The puzzle is now complete.

It made me think about though that sometimes in our lives we feel like we are missing a "piece". There are times, when I just don't feel right or I'm missing something. Sometimes as we are searching for the "missing piece" it can be a challenge, but I think that we always end up stronger when we do find it. Lately, I've been feeling like I'm missing something, but I'm comfortable with the feeling, not empty. I think it is just a transition in life for something better....so now I just wait and search for that missing piece. I know that once again my puzzle will be complete!

Alarm Clock...

In Liberia, we had an automatic alarm clock called the rooster. He would give us his call every morning, and we got so in the habit of it, that we didn't have to use an alarm. Until it came to Liberia's Independence Day, and the rooster was no longer around.

Now, that I am back from Libera, our cat Mara, has decided to do something new each morning. She comes into our bedroom about 10 mins before the alarm is to go off, and she meows. Now, I'm not talking about just a simple, sweet, soft meow. This is a loud, you need to be out of bed now, "meow"! I'm not sure why. We do not give her any attention when she does it to encourage it. She is not neglected in anyway. She is just one needy cat. :) She meows for a while. Then when I get out of bed to shower, she waits by the bathroom door, until I get out, meowing and pushing on the door. Followed by her waiting by my feet, giving me love, until I feed her and give her water for the day. I love my cat.

Hoping that Mara decides to take a break in the morning, because I sure would like to sleep-in.

Anyone else out there have a pet with a morning routine?

Bookworm...

(one of my all time favorites from elementary school)

Our librarian at our school does some really great things with our students! She is encouraging the students to read all the books from the following list before they finish elementary school. I think is a fabulous challenge for them. I have decided to take the same challenge. The list has more than 100 books on it, but I sure hope this school year, I can finish reading all the books on the list. I love to read! It is one of my favorite hobbies, but what is so great about this list is that it has challenged me to read books that I never thought of picking up to read because it didn't interest me by the title. There have been a couple of books from the list, that I had to force myself to get through the first few chapters. After I began reading it though, I began to appreciate the book and the writing, even if it wasn't a type of "genre" that I would read normally.

Here is the list posted by the National Education Association in 1999.

http://www.teachersfirst.com/100books.cfm

From this page I found a newer updated list from the NEA from teachers in 2007. I hope to read these books as well.

http://www.teachersfirst.com/getsource.cfm?id=8498

Maybe this will encourage you to enjoy picking up a children's book or young adult's book, and enjoy the world of reading once again!

"NO TV?!?!" why/how do you do it?

Josh and I had been discussing getting rid of our tv service for a while now. We hardly watched our basic channels from DirecTV, and if we did it was mostly for background noise. As we were looking at trying to get rid of our debt, we decided that TV was not necessary for our lives. So I made the phone call and canceled it. DirecTV must be desperate though, they begged us to stay as customers, even going as low as giving us 5 months free (we only paid around $30 a month) I still declined the offer. I just stated that we have changed our priorities in life, and TV is not a priority for us. I think he fell off his chair, as there was a long pause after I finally said it the second time. Yes, we do still have a television or 2 in our home to watch movies. We are big Netflix fans, but we don't find it necessary to be connected to channels of TV. Now the fun part is telling people we don't have TV. They kind of give you a funny look like....you do know it is the 21st century. I don't mind though because these are the things I have enjoyed since we haven't had TV for 2 weeks.

1. The quietness to destress when I get home.

2. I can actually have a conversation with my husband without yelling over the TV.

3. I have finished reading a book, and looking forward to all the reading I will do in my "spare" time.

4. When the internet gets boring, I don't have the TV to rely on now to avoid doing housework, so I have noticed that I have been doing a bit more of it lately.

5. Working on a fall themed puzzle. I love putting together jigsaw puzzles! I've missed doing it.

6. Playing board games or card games with my husband.

7. No distraction while I'm grading papers!

8. Spending more time with my favorite cat Mara.

9. We've done more work outside our home.

10. Loving that I don't have to look at all the Ads on TV to try to get me to buy things.

I still can get my news streamed live on the internet, watch our favorite episodes of the few shows we enjoy, and still like the fact that we are not addicted to the big tube!

Life is good.

Dreaming...

So after my dreamed filled night, it made me think why do I dream so much?

It just so happened that when I thought to blog about this topic, I found an article about dreaming on yahoo's page today. http://health.yahoo.net/articles/womens-health/8-things-you-didn%E2%80%99t-know-about-dreams

My husband and I have had discussions about dreaming a few times, and he always says that he doesn't remember his dreams most of the time. I am the opposite though, every morning when I wake up I remember at least 1 of my dreams, if not more. Most of my dreams are not pleasant either. It seems like my brain never shuts down at night. I wake up in the morning and wonder if I really fell into a deep sleep at all. I'm sure it is because I don't know how to just let things go... I'm either thinking about work, finances, life stresses, friends' concerns, etc. It isn't so much that it bothers me that I dream because I know we all do; it is more the fact that I remember them clearly.

On a positive note, after reading the yahoo article it says that dreaming can help you learn. So I guess dreaming isn't half bad, huh?

Maybe I'll try counting sheep tonight...

Labor Day...

Since I was reminded by my husband the other day, that I hadn't blogged in a while, I thought I better post.

I want to share that this weekend's weather has been fabulous!!! I absolutely love it. No excuse to stay inside, and it has encouraged my husband and I to get outside and do some yard work. Perfect weather for a three day weekend.

Labor Day is a holiday I have always looked forward to, but not usually because of its purpose to be honest. It usually is a sign for me that fall is on the way: trees changing, cooler temps, high school football games, hoodies, pumpkins, apple cider from the farm, etc. All the goodness that fall brings to my life. It also means that we are back to regular 3 p.m. dismissal which is nice to be on our regular schedule, and the students are settled in for the year.
Speaking of my students, I always tell them when a holiday comes up that we do not attend school, that they should be mindful of the meaning of the holiday. Not just "another day off from school" attitude. As I do have basic understanding of the Labor Day holiday, I figured I better take my own advice and research more about the history of Labor Day. I encourage you to check it out for yourself at http://www.dol.gov/opa/aboutdol/laborday.htm Hopefully as I'm enjoying another day of sleeping in and this beautful weather, I too will be mindful of the reason I am blessed to have this day off from work. Happy Labor Day!!!

Batter up...

Baseball. This is a sport that I really technically didn't play growing up, since I played t-ball and softball. (at least according to my husband ; ) ) Anyway, since I first met my husband I knew he was a huge baseball fan. In fact, he has such a huge collection of baseball cards, that I just know will be arriving at our doorstep someday from his aunt's house. Dreading the day, when we have to sort through them all. This has led me though to thinking...how did I really start to like baseball??? The more time I spend with my husband, the more the game of baseball has grown on me. There is something about the sport of baseball that I really enjoy.

1. I think it has to do with the slower pace, so I can keep up with it. There isn't a puck flying across the ice in a blur that causes me to have whiplash to keep up with it or a ball flying through the air as players run down the field or court. Keep in mind, cross country was my favorite sport in high school. Easy for me to follow. :)

2. Baseball is clear. Each player has his own position on the field. His own place he is responsible for, and as a spectator I can clearly understand their roles, as I look from the stands.

3. Family fun. Great summer time fun. You can bring the family and enjoy the game. When we go to the Peoria Chief's games, you see all ages of fans at the games. Families sitting on their blankets in the nice lawn area. Kids running around waiting for that foul ball to land in their hands. Great promotions and events for families to enjoy.

4. There is a great challenge to hitting a small ball going 90 mph with a stick in your hand.

5. Watching the ball fly through the air, wondering whether it is going to make it over the fence or not.

6. Wild dives and hops to catch or stop the ball with no protection or pads to land on, except the uniform on their back.

7. Baseball has such great history. Look it up.

8. Baseball has a lot of mental strategy to it. As I watch the coach at the base give the signals to the batter, there is some strategy behind all the signs. As I watch the pitcher and catcher communicate there is strategy. As I watch a batter hit the ball, right between the infield and outfield to get the runner from 3rd base to home...there is strategy.

9. So many great movies that deal with baseball. Field of Dreams, Love of the Game, Sandlot, Rookie of the Year, The Rookie, *61, Major League, Bull Durham, The Natural, Fever Pitch, Eight Men Out, A League of their Own, need I say more...

10. Nothing better than watching a someone, especially kids, get an autograph from a baseball player. The smile is priceless, and at the minor league games, they are so good about it.

An addition from my husband...

11. This has helped us find a common bond between each other, in the midst of our crazy busy lives full of distractions.

I guess over the last 8 years, my husband is beginning to turn me into a baseball lover. Even if we cheer on different teams; I'm a Cubs fan and he is an Astros fan (don't ask!) We still can see eye to eye that baseball can be a great pastime for all to enjoy. I can't wait for the next season to watch the Peoria Chiefs play...

Across the Ocean and Beyond

Stuff...is...not...important...in...life... This is the number one lesson that I was reminded of as I went on a teacher training mission trip this summer to Liberia, Africa. I knew that when I returned from this trip, I would be changed, and I think I have a whole new look to life. Here are some thoughts I now have going through my head after returning from Africa:

1. I have plenty! I look around my home, and I see all of this STUFF. Many of it I couldn't even tell you that I own. Josh and I don't live a life full of wealth, but we do have things. I know that I can live without many of these things and still be happy. I dont need the latest phone, the newest car, the biggest house, or the designer clothes. This can be so difficult as our society is full of materialism. I'm just thankful for loving family and friends.


2. I have plenty of things already in my classroom. I shouldn't complain that I need more. In Liberia, teachers are lucky to have a decent chalkboard and chalk to teach. The students are lucky to have a notebook and a pencil/pen. Books are a rare item to find in the classrooms and shopping for school supplies is not in the Liberian students' minds. They wouldn't know what to do if they saw all the school supplies at our stores.

3. Fortunate to have easy access to food whenever I want it. I can go home and find food in the cabinets. I can be on the road and within 10-20 mins. I can find food to eat and a little bit of money to pay for it. Many Liberians that we interacted with are lucky to get a meal a day, and that usually consists of rice.

4. Thankful for my job and a pay check! Can you imagine being a teacher and only making $40 a month!

5. The world is much bigger than small town living, and yet the world is so small. A smile is a beautiful universal thing, especially a child's smile!


I'm sure there will be more to share...until then...I heart Liberia!

Feeling heavy...

I guess I'm going to try out this blogging. I have always said that I'm not a great writer, nor great at expressing thoughts through written words. So please excuse all grammar mistakes that you may find in this blog. I hope this is a way for me to express some of my thoughts on my life happenings. So here it is... my first blog post.

It is amazing how easy it is to gain weight. All of a sudden I look in the mirror and see a whole new me, with an extra 20 lbs. I guess it is one of those things where you picture yourself looking a certain way, and even when you look in the mirror you still see that same person. As I went on my mission trip to Liberia, several pics were taken of me. (another blog post to share about that trip) When I looked at the pictures, reality slapped me in the face. This is really what I look like?!?! So I hope that I can get myself back on track. After my back surgery, I have just been extra cautious about things, which has allowed me to make excuses. Excuses are no longer acceptable now. I know that it just takes eating healthier and walking/exercising a lot, because I've done it before. My goal of course would be around 30 lbs, but I will gladly take 1 lb at a time. :)