A heart where you least expect to find it

This little heart was in the cream cheese that I put on my french toast last Thursday. I didn't do anything to make it so. It just kind of appeared there. It felt like a small little reminder that God still loves us and is still watching out for us. It was significant that it was on Thursday because last Wednesday, a dear friend of mine lost her son in a car accident. We are still so devastated. But love is out there, and small little reminders of it, everywhere if we just can have eyes to see. Look hard dear friends! I, for one, LOVE YOU!

getting organized

This week my goal is to get organized in a more organized fashion:)
I sat down each one of my kids separately after dinner tonight and had them tell me their schedule for the week. It worked out really well. I wrote their needs down on my weekly planner pages and I also wrote it down on a weekly page pad that I bought at Target over the summer. The pad sticks to the fridge with magnets. Now everyone including my husband will have access to the schedule. Pretty slick!
I also wrote down all the things that I would need to prep and put it down on the to do list a day in advance so I have given myself a little extra wiggle room in case I cannot accomplish everything I need to.
I know that I am not alone out there in having too many things to do and too many places to be during the week. But that is to be expected when you have a large-ish family like I do and kids who aren't driving yet. Hopefully, a little planning in advance will help the week go more smoothly.
What do you do to help yourself be organized?

Love and football

1 and 0!!!

Wow! You know, I think there is very little that I love more than football.

I know that I shouldn't be as wild about the game as I am but I just can't seem to help it. I think that it is the adrenaline or something. I just love football and especially the Cowboys. I've been a fan since I was a little, little girl and we lived in Fort Worth.

This November will be the culmination of a lifelong dream for me. Last year, my husband bought me season tickets for this year for the Cowboys. I have NO idea how he got them because it has always been my understanding that it is nearly impossible to get Cowboys season tickets. And it might seem insane considering that we live about 9 states away from Texas, so we will probably never ever get to any of the games other than the Thanksgiving game. In fact, this game will probably be my only shot in my whole lifetime to see my beloved Cowboys play live in Texas Stadium. But my husband is the absolute best. He bought a whole seasons worth of tickets so that I could see one game, live and in person. He totally supports my passion and that is just priceless.

How I found out about the season tickets was pretty funny too. ( Well looking back on it now is...)

For some reason, my hubby and I were in this horrible fight ( I can't remember what started it, but it was one of the ones where you think, I should just leave, I hate this person across from me!) and then I told him he could just go get an apartment he had the money on his credit card (since we had just paid it off in trying to meet our goal of becoming debt free) and I could care less if I ever saw him again. He turned to me and said he didn't have the money on his card (I nearly went ballistic at that- horrible things were going through my mind, a hussy on the side, gambling, what the HECK did he spend that money on???) I'm so mad at this point I am ready to launch into space and he looked me straight in the eye and said in this low, calm voice..." I bought Cowboys season tickets for you so we can go to a Thanksgiving game." My mouth dropped open and all the fight went out of me. It is hard to describe that moment and how I felt. Low down as a dirty dog. Shock and surprise and love for this man who so totally gets me. I think it was the nicest thing that anyone has ever done for me and I was being so mean and hateful and letting my need to be right and my emotions get control of me. It was a major big lesson for me. A real shocker. Because what do you say to the man that makes your dreams come true? Nothing but I love you, honey. And you know that I always will.

First Day of School!

"Oh what a beautiful morning, oh what a beautiful day, I've got a beautiful feeling, everything's going my way"

After I woke up this morning at 4 am (2 hours too soon, due to a major case of butterflies... yes, teachers get them too!) I was raring to go. My kids got up at the crack of dawn and we did our first day of school "stuff" like taking a picture and listening to "Look at your life through Heaven's Eyes" from the Prince of Egypt CD. We got lunches packed in the wonderful new bags that I sewed this summer, complete with reusable sandwich wraps so we are on our way to becoming ziploc free. Lion starts his Junior year, Monkey started his first day of high school and Cheetah started seventh grade. The boys were much too cool to want to continue our traditions this year, but gave in gracefully to appease their mama.

Then we got everyone on the bus and my daughter, Bear, and I went to school. It is so nice having her along with me for one more year. Cherish your babies while they are small because really they do grow up in what feels like a blink, looking back on it. (I do remember however being nearly to tears because when they were all small it was so overwhelming just to get the four of them to the car, much less anywhere else, so to all moms out there with multiple little ones, I know what you are feeling. You can do it, you will survive!)

And then my students came in this morning. I haven't seen them all summer. ( I am looping with my students so I am teaching them for two years) They have grown so tall and step into the classroom with such an air of maturity. It humbles me and awes me all at the same time. I also have several new kids too and they are just delightful.

I only had one kid throw up today and one girl cry a few tears (welcome to fourth grade honey!) and so it was a great first day all in all.

I love September. It is a month of falling in love all over again.