LIFE AT HMS...

MADE IN THE USA...

Sooo...one of my colleagues challenged us all to buy 1 thing made in the USA for Christmas.  She said ABC is doing a huge push about this on their newscast.  Apparently, if everyone did this it would create 250,000 new jobs in the United States.  I also heard another coworker say there are websites of things made in the USA.  Sounds like I have a little shopping to do.  (I am thinking I will go with a Meadowbrooke Gourd Snowman.)  Maybe some of you will take the challenge and we can help boost our economy!

This was a definite Seinfeld conversation that resurfaced throughout the day...I am cracking up just thinking about it again. 

RANDOM TRIVIA...

I started writing down random trivia about my coworkers.  It has proven to be very entertaining for us all.  I am amazed but also proud to be teaching with women who have lived such interesting yet unexpected randomness in their lives just like me.  ha 

Today we added to the list...What teacher discovered recently that her mother-in law brought home a prosthetic leg they got from Goodwill that they do not even have a use for? heeheeheehee  Who takes their legs to Goodwill anyway????  Totally hilarious.  Just picturing the look on her face when she went in and saw the leg laying there...Her mother-in-law is a hoarder so this is ongoing...but I will say this tops it all so far.  (I am crying right now...wondering if this is even funny to anyone else??!!  ha)

Anyways, when something happens from now on I am writing it down...this stuff is just too good.  I cannot wait to hear what will be let out of the vault next!  I would tell you what is on the list but some of what happens during lunch must stay in lunch.  ha

RUMOR ABOUT DAVID...

Sooo...my husband just called and told  me there is a rumor going around Gleason that he had a heart attack.  His mother even called him tonight to see what this is about.  Junk like this creeps me out.  David has a staff infection and is fine as far as I can tell...but he has not had a heart attack. 

This has totally crushed my blogging spirit.  It gets my mind wandering places it shouldn't even go.  Guess I need a hot bath to wash away this weird feeling that has just come over me.  Sometimes small town talk can just make you sick. Good night, friends. 

I'm so navy...

Duck season allows for lots of me time when Chloe Jo is sleeping.  I miss David sooo much but it is a bit refreshing to have full access to the remote and control of the OFF button on the television.  I have been thinking...time alone should be time of reflection...quiet time with God and myself to do some soul searching.  I should take the opportunity to do some listening to that calm still voice that sometimes gets lost in the noises of my life.

I know things are changing all around me...my job change...daycare changes...David's business is taking off...all things changing are showing themselves as huge blessings for us... BUT I resist every change that comes my way.  This is a flaw in my character.   I typically stay where I feel comfort...and always choose the same path even though I feel I need to maybe stir things up even a little more.

For instance, when I go to my closet, I see clothing of many colors but I always choose navy.  It is safe...somewhat slimming...and comfy to me.  I like navy.  Don't be a hater.  I know I have no style...I just need to be comfortable to do what I do.

Back to my point, I wonder sometimes if anyone else is even thinking about that whisper.  The world is so wrapped up in busy...it tries to suck you in.  I strive to keep things pretty simple.  I do not like a full schedule of events on the weekend.  I try to stay home as much as possible.  I make an effort to cook meals for my family.  I even put up corn the last two summers.  haha  I love to sit around and talk to my friends and family.  I like to read books and play games.  I love to make my home cozy.  I am happiest when David and I are at home with Chloe Jo doing a bunch of nothing.   

So, now that David's business is showing success, I struggle.  I am thankful but trying to find my place in the duck world.  heehee  See friends, I am not a duck hunter.  I have no plans to be a duck hunter.  AND I miss my duck hunter being in my cozy home doing absolutely nothing when he is away.  (There, I said it.) 

Something strange happened the other day...I was driving along in my car and all of a sudden the guy on the radio says...GOD WON'T PROTECT YOU FROM WHAT HE CAN PERFECT YOU THROUGH.  I immediately sent a random text to my friend, Jenna.  I wanted to share it...it was so randomly said and that was it.  It was intended to be a lesson for me to ponder about.  This is all about spiritual growth.  I get it.  God wants me to turn to Him...and struggle tends to make me cling to God even more.

In time, I know He will reveal His next steps for us.  Until then, I need to remain positive...count my blessings...continue listening for that whisper.  Chances are the next time I go to my closet, my choice will still be navy, though...just saying. 

I wonder if any of this even makes sense to you, friends.  haha

Giving Thanks

I AM THANKFUL...

I have to admit...today I have felt a little bummed out.  Thanksgiving is a time to be thankful...BUT for our family it is the beginning of DUCK SEASON!  Although I am excited that David's business is doing well, I miss him when he is gone soooo much.  (There would be something wrong with the picture if I didn't right??!!)

While I was feeling down in the dumps, my friend Ginger and her kids had perfect timing.  They came over and gave Frosty a makeover!   So, after lots of laughs, I am feeling thankful for my friends and their kids.  OH, and I am feeling thankful for my new bow for my snowman tree, too:) 

These snowmen have been in my life for years.  I have collected snowmen for 20 years.  Each snowman has a different story...really.  Many teacher friends and kids have given them to me.  Some I purchased when I had my first apartment.  So, I will continue the tradition of the snowman tree but with a bright and cheery new ribbon...funny how simple things like this bring me cheer. 

Chloe Jo helping decorate the tree:) 

When she finished she said to me, "Mama, it is beautiful."

BLAST FROM THE PAST...

No BIG family dinner goes by that I do not think of a prayer that an old classmate of mine said in a play we did in Speech and Drama back in High School.  I have no explanation of why these random things stay with me and are still funny to this day...but I bet many others out there know exactly what I am about to recite...

Bless the meat, darn the skin...
Roll it up, and cram it in!



PLAYING DRESS UP...


So, Chloe Jo loves to play dress up.  I have shared many photos of her in her hats and capes...high heels...glasses and jewels.  Here's a new dress up game she plays...and Hazy LOVES it:)  heehee

DOT PAINTING...

We got crafty and broke out the dot painters.  I get so excited that Chloe Jo loves doing this stuff because creative stuff was my thing growing up. I guess it is still my thing.  I just wish these were really "no mess" like it says on the box.  It should really say washable after soaking in the tub for 30 minutes...heehee  oh well, I still love it!



NEW GINGERBREAD FRIENDS...

It's those little things again...these two made my funky tree a little more exciting:) 

OPRAH'S LIFE CLASS...

I really like to watch this on the OWN network.  Thought I would share.  You might want to check it out.  Interesting... especially if you like Oprah:)

Tomorrow is a big day, friends.  I am thankful for each one of you and what you have meant in my life.  I give thanks for the blessings in my life...even duck hunting.  Happy Thanksgiving!

UP and other randomness...

So, last night I finally watched the movie Up.  It really was a good movie with a deeper message about how to live your life with adventure.  Also, hit on how we like to hang on to the things of the past, I think.  Sometimes these movies can hit a spot in my heart because there is truth to their underlying meanings... maybe things I do not like to deal with.  Now, I understand when my friends say, SQUIRREL!  haha  

Anyways, today after church we went to eat lunch at Wendy's.   Well, of course, the place was packed.  We managed to get the last empty table.  There was a woman sitting at the table beside us all alone.  I kid you not...a man and his wife looking for a place to sit, asked to sit at the table with her.  When he sat down he uttered not a word to us...but the sight of him almost made me spit out my food.  It was Carl Fredricksen himself!  (just a younger version)  Dark glasses...hearing aid...not smiled a day in his life maybe...ha 

When his wife asked to sit with the lady alone, he muttered to her something about going home...but sat down and reluctantly began eating his meal.  Neither of them spoke to each other or the lady they sat with. They spoke to one another through body language and facial expressions. 

I kept noticing them looking at the ceiling and then at each other...his wife held up her hand like asking him if he felt something...he would just raise his eyebrows and huff and puff and look up at the ceiling and then they would both shake their heads.  I was totally cracking up...wondering why they didn't speak while David is just giving me the look.  ( He was having fast food got you order mixed up rage, which wasn't bothering me because I was too busy watching Mr. Fredricksen.)

This went on throughout our entire meal...as I was finishing up...I looked over at Chloe Jo with her chocolate milk and her straw...(which was entirely toooooo long for her milk jug)  Wouldn't you  know it, with every slurp of the straw she was flicking chocolate milk in the air on Mr. Fredrickson's wife! 

 I did not utter a word..only looked at him and raised my eyebrows as we got up to leave the restaurant.  David was not amused....he was still flustered that they forgot his bacon on his baked potato. 

Hope you are having a great Sunday afternoon, friends. 

what will the weekend bring?

LOVE THESE GIRLS...

I got a new pic from Lydia and the girls last night.  Thought I would share.  For those who may not know these are my older brother Marcus' twins, who live (as Chloe Jo would say) far...far...far...away.  What I love is that my nieces send me crazy pics.  I miss them so much.  It is so hard to believe how fast they have grown up.  I am quite sure one of their funniest memories is when I used to sing "If I Had a Hammer" to them in the car.  haha 

Girls, it looks as if you had a great time at the bookstore:)  As Lydia put it...a fun Friday night! 

OH CHRISTMAS TREE...

Well, I have begun.  This is what I will call my official blog break.  I have not been very productive with the first tree because as usual...there was drama.  My mother had called about lunch and while on the phone...Chloe Jo literally had an explosion in the bathroom.  "It" was everywhere.  I was thankful she at least made it to the bathroom floor and did not get it on the carpet.

If I live through toddler days, I am writing a book.  

I spent the morning scrubbing and disinfecting ...two of my favorite pastimes.  I did manage a Dollar General run and scored some cute Gingerbread men pencils for my centers at school:)  BUT, when I returned home David called and said he was on the side of the road in MO..."broke down"...pulling the camper in his piece of junk duck mobile.  In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I remained thankful.  (that I wasn't with him on the side of the road,  okay so I am half-way joking)  

Poor David just cannot seem to catch a break.  He is working so hard to get things ready.  All I know is he said something about his rear end being hot...probably not a great time for jokes.  ha 

Guess I will give it a few minutes and then I will call him back to see if his oil was boiling...if he can make it... not sure if I can really help him with this at all.  One thing for sure, I am going to make sure he gets home okay...and I am gonna have a tree decorated when he finally gets here:) 

Hope you are having a fabulous Saturday, friends. 

P.S.  I am asking for prayer for a classmate of mine and his family.  He is at Vanderbilt now having heart issues, again...  He's that guy you just cannot say enough good things about.  Lift him up, please.   



HOMIE DON'T PLAY THAT...

Well...it happened today.  Mrs. Misty had it with the attitude of a young gentleman.  Mr. I'm Too Cool for Language Arts himself has been entering and exiting my classroom for a while now with his 20 carat CZ stud ...looking mighty "fi" to the young ladies...BUT today...I did my ole skool friends proud...he had a slight change of heart after this wanna be Ole Skool teacher took charge today...I was afraid it would not work.

I love this kid.  Let me rephrase that, I love all my kids.  They are still kids in 4th grade but many know way more than I ever knew at their age.  This particular young man has trouble with reading and has tried to mask his struggles with a huge chip on his shoulder.  But I saw a million dollar smile today.  I won his trust today.  He finally knows I care, now.  This is why I love teaching at Huntingdon Middle School...my Alma Mater.  

I learned from the best of Ole Skool friends.  I cherish them dearly...we were the class of 92 at Huntingdon High School.  Many of my best memories came from playing on our basketball team.  I remember thinking back then how quickly a comeback and ALWAYS came out clean and on top.  Of course, growing up I didn't really know what they were talking about half the time when the talking smack began...I just knew I loved it. I have been saving some of this until a "have to" situation...it had to come at the right time.  Risky, yes...but I am so glad  it happened because this changes everything. 

I wish I had a picture of the look on his face when I broke it down to him.  But the blank page in front of him set me off and my eye started twitching...he has not even given any effort...that is all I expect.

The words just came out.  "You betta check yourself before you wreck yourself!" 

I wish for the life of me I knew who said that in school.   I laughed inside thinking about my girls...Yukendelle (Kim H.)....Shelley...and Monk ( just to name a few BB friends)...they are phenomenal women.  I love them.        

The reaction...kids yelling, "oooooo...You got served!"  HIS smile was priceless.  He wrote down answers on his paper.  I even got a hug.  AND the best part is I learned a new phrase today.  Funny thing is I really don't know for sure what that means...BUT I feel like I may still have "it".  heehee 

Thanks to all my Ole Skool friends who kept things real with these smack phrases that make me laugh out loud to this day.  Thinking about you all brings a huge smile to my face.  I love you all!  I still cannot believe I said that.  Pretty funny right there, hope your Monday was as rewarding as mine:)

A lovely Sunday...

UWM...

My mother would literally die if she knew what I am about to share.  ha  The thought of her reaction makes me laugh out loud.  I am sure she has had the same issues but her generation of women have trouble sharing important events like this, even though my argument has been it sure would have been nice for you to share.  There are MANY things I have had to experience "blindly"  because we just did not talk about "those kind of things". 

I have recently had a few episodes with UWM.  One day "it" happened at school and I literally had to bend my body to the right as I walked to keep my balance.   On that particular day, I slid into my desk chair to answer the phone and I heard the snap.

What happens to us that we don't usually discuss is the knife slice after the snap. I felt a sharp puncture to my skin and was forced to keep it in.  ( probably because there were 22 4th graders under my supervision...)  The rest of the day I was overcompensating for my UWM.  See, it is certainly not an easy fix for me.

Today, the surprise UWM happened.  No snap...just a hole through the middle...then the knife.  TEARS come to your eyes... you scream out...but think maybe I can hot glue to patch up this problem.  JUST SAY NO.  That is what we should share...just discard and make sure to have a spare at all times.

Lucky for me I can get some replacements two for the price of one to stock up again for all these episodes of UWM.   Good thing since they are pricey.  One of the things I learned was to invest wisely.  Still, parts wear out.  haha

I think just for entertainment purposes I 'll let you do some level 5 thinking/inquiry on what UWM stands for...if you teach you get that. 

GRADING PAPERS...

After grading hundreds of papers and huffing and puffing after each set...a knock came at the door.  It  was quite a nice surprise.  My neighbors were delivering my case of Diet Coke I ordered.  In the wise words of Javion ( a previous student)...JACKPOT!  I immediately sent a random text to my friend Jenna...who loves Diet Coke as much as I do.  When I received my drinks it made me think of her.

POTTY TRAINING...

Just a little update.  Big girl panties all weekend.   Let's just all pray for my daughter....and her mother.  This has been my most difficult feat of motherhood to conquer, yet.   Many tears have been shed by both of us.  Hopefully, I will laugh about this sooner than later.  I didn't say anything about it being an accident free weekend...that is why my surprise delivery was OH, SO SWEET! 

Supper is cooking...gotta go finish my feast.  PlayDoh and Lite Brite on the agenda before bath and bed.
I love my simple and very predictable life!  The Vaughns have a busy week ahead.  Plus, I have some online shopping to take care of.  heehee
Have a great week, friends. 


    

Noises in the night...

So, this week I was a little on the sleepy side.  Halloween night and all events leading up to that night had me worn down.   On this particular night, I went to the couch during the night to sleep because Chloe Jo was in our bed...she puts her feet on me and digs in her toenails...long story short...I cannot deal with it so I decided rather than put her back in her bed...I would just go to the couch. 

I was sleeping so peaceful until a noise outside woke me up.  I sat straight up on the couch knowing that someone was outside in my car.  I quietly went to the bedroom to get David, my heart was literally pounding out of my chest.  It seemed as though it took him 20 minutes to get outside to take a look.  I was rushing him and irritated as I was telling him that by the time he got out there whoever it was would be gone with the goods.  I thought maybe I had forgotten to lock my car doors.

Finally, he opened the door to see what all the ruckus was...literally a 25 pound raccoon was in the carport storage room.  He had managed to get himself under the hot water heater and was laid out to rest for the night. 

It didn't take  much to get him out...just the sound of David putting out more cat food did the trick.   Our cats were going crazy.  I was going crazy...because I just needed more sleep.  I was relieved it was only a raccoon. 

With all of this, we solved the mystery of who was eating up all the cat food.  That thing was healthy...and chances are had been staying in our carport every night.  ha 

Hoping for a great night of sleep...tonight we fall back, right?  haha  Good night, friends. 

THE raccoon and Buzz...our not so smart cat

Packing up the Halloween...

Well, I have worked my booty off today trying to get my inside Halloween stuff packed away. Now that Halloween is over, Thanksgiving is on my brain.  My decor is lacking for this holiday.  I am one of those people who put their Christmas tree(s) up before Thanksgiving.  I DID NOT DO IT TODAY...settle down...but I am fighting it.  ha 

Thanksgiving is usually a stressful holiday because I am sad that my family cannot all be together because of whatever circumstances that be.  I will celebrate with Thanksgiving because despite everything NOT going well in my family, I have nothing but love for everyone.  I battle with not being able to change it...waiting on God.  My efforts usually end up being taken the wrong way. 

Ya know, there are so many things going so right.  I am very blessed and pray that in time there will be forgiveness.  I pray that one day old stuff will be put aside and we can all just express our love for one another.  That is what is in my heart.  We certainly all have our issues within our families so I will be praying for others as well. 

Thanksgiving just hasn't been the same since my Grandmother passed away.  We always went to her house.  I miss her the most around the holidays.   I think everyone struggles...she would not like us fretting over her.  She was the center of our family...so her absence is HUGE! 

I realize this post is a complete downer...guess there are times I just feel a wave of emotion come over me.  I have joy in my heart and love for people.  I am reminding myself to count my blessings and continue praying for restoration in my family.

Here are some happy things going on today admist my emotion...ha
I am thankful for you, friends. 

Got this from Lydia via text... making cake pops for Thanksgiving.  Very cute! 

Got out the Thanksgiving peeps...Chloe Jo loves these as much as Hannah and Sarah used to...

Gotta work on that centerpiece..haha

Interesting find...Pilgrims and Indians dancing together:)