2 New Teeth!

Raegan has 2 new teeth! Last night she was sitting in my lap cuddling with me and she put my index finger in her mouth. This is usually what I do to rub her gums when they hurt. I told her to bite down so I could check her teeth. She did and OUCH... I found out the hard way that she now has her top molars. She has cut them a little early. The odd thing is that she has 10 teeth but she is still missing her bottom lateral incisors which usually come in around a year old. Hmm! I'm not worried though. I have heard all kinds of teething sequences. However, she has been an easy teether. Maybe we have just heard so many horror stories that we were prepared for the worst. Remember this is our first time at this parenting thing and we do get a lot of unwarranted advice and tidbits... some of which is very helpful. We don't rule anything out in the beginning.

On another note, I found out recently that a co-worker and friend of mine is expecting again. Her son is about to turn 10 months old. YIKES and the new baby is due in April. Can you say surprised? Shhh! Its still a secret to most people.

My friend Samantha who recently lost her dad only a short week after the birth of her son is due back to work in 2 weeks. We really miss her. She is doing well given all that she has been through. Thank you to those of you who said prayers on her behalf.

The Wheeler family has exciting news.... They are coming home soon. Their time in Guatemala has been very trying. Please pray for a safe return for them. They have dealt with so much lately from moving, to sickness, and stolen purses and diaper bags. Whew! Only God could keep a person sane during all that they have been through.

This week is one of my hardest teaching weeks and luckily just before FALL BREAK! We have class this weekend and then a full week off!!!! :0) YIPPPPPPPEEEEEEEEEEE! Maybe I can get some projects done around the house before our company comes in for the weekend.

Hope you all have a good week!

Pumpkin carving.

We carved pumpkins tonight. I know its not even October yet but next weekend I have class, and the weekend after that we are having company, and then the weekend after that we have plans to go somewhere, and then the last weekend we have a Halloween party to go to. Whew! Hey, you gotta do it when you can. Since Raegan loves Mickey Mouse I found one in a coloring book and then Scott used it to carve her pumpkin. My plans were to do a Disney castle on one pumpkin and then one of the characters on another one. We have two left. My dad thought Raegan needed to have sooooo many. We just recently went to his farm and picked some out then he called me and said for me to come by that he had a surprise for Raegan. I stopped by to find 10 watermelons and 7 pumpkins waiting for a special little girl to have her pick. She picked the one out that has Mickey on it!!!!!! She LOVES watermelon. It is so funny watching her eat it. She slurps and dribbles it all the way down to the rind. Just the other day she fell asleep in her highchair while eating some.

As if you couldn't tell this little girl brings so much joy to our family. She is truly a blessing to us. I am amazed each day at how much her personality has developed. She is such a little ham. We are always smiling and laughing with her. She has been an easy baby. We are thankful for that.

HOMECOMING!!!!!!

Today is our Homecoming Game and we are so excited. We play Independence High School from Franklin, TN. This week has been fun-filled with dress-up days and float building. Every class builds a float for the Homecoming Parade. The winner gets a cash prize for their class account. They raise money during the time they are in school to go towards their Senior Prom. I hope the sophomores win because they have worked so hard. It will definitely be between the Seniors and the Sophomores......we'll see tonight. We also have "chain wars" where the class who sales the most paper chain links wins the total of all 3 classes to go towards the charity of their choice. Then at half-time the students stretch the chains across the football fields to show how many they have sold. This activity mixes a little friendly competition with the spirit of charitable giving.

Raegan was dancing like crazy at the pep rally. Grandaddy dropped her off at school and I took her with me to the town square where we held a pep rally on the courthouse lawn. The parade goes through town and then finally reaches the square for a pep rally for the entire town. I know all of this seems silly to some but things like this are why I love small town life. There's nothing like it. Everyone celebrates together

Happy Birthday Jacob!

Happy Birthday to our sweet nephew Jacob who turned 6 today. We love you Jacob!

Family Reunion on Green Mountain

Today was our Family Reunion on Green Mountain and we really enjoyed ourselves. We were so glad that my Grandparents felt like going that we all loaded up in two cars and made an entire day of it. Scott didn't get in any pictures because he was taking most of them. Thank you.

My dad, grandparents, Raegan, and myself.

Raegan loves to stand on the stump and look out the window of the covered bridge.

Me, Raegan, and Grammy. Can you believe this woman is over 70? Doesn't she look great for her age. I hope I age half as well as she has.

Raegan peeking around the window.

Momma and Raegan...... Daddy's Girls.

Back at Grandaddy Steve's house. His friend Lynn let Raegan take a picture on his Harley. He and my dad have been friends since they were in school together. He saw us outside and stopped by to visit. His daughter and I are the same age and I had his son last year in school.

Great-Grandaddy and Curly Clemons as he calls her. This is a rare photo op as she doesn't sit in his lap very often.

Grandaddy Steve, Great-Grandaddy, and Raegan. Every Grandaddy must have super-trooper Ray-bans. Atleast both of Raegan's Grandaddy's do.

His Little Girls. We are the daughters he never had.

Father and Son.

Happy Fall Ya'll

FALL is my favorite time of year! I love the leaves and the smell of the crisp, cool air. Ahhhh! I was looking back at some pictures from this time last year and I was thinking about how things have changed since then. This time last year I was getting ready to go to Chicago with my dad. Unfortunately we won't be able to go this fall but Patty will be here instead. This time of year is usually relaxing for me and as you can tell by the previous post we have been very busy which makes the time we do get to relax so much more rewarding. I found our pumpkin pictures from last year. Daddy picked out the costume and it was adorable. Our little pumpkin didn't think so at first but she loved it eventually. Hope you enjoy and HAPPY FALL YA'LL!!!!!!

All in a days work.

We have been super busy today. ( I say we b/c usually everything we do is together) Scott and I took turns bleaching and pressure washing the driveway. After 4 hours it V looks great but we still have a little left. We also did some housework. Need I say that we have plenty more to do. I fixed kabobs and Scott grilled them. Then we all got showered from doing all the outside work. We went to the grocery store. It seemed like it had been forever since we had done the major shopping because we were out of everything. After shopping, I made cookies and we put up the groceries just in time to see Auburn score the first touchdown of the game. War Eagle!!!!!

Lately it seems like we will never catch up on everything we have to do. I have to finish cleaning and cooking for a family reunion tomorrow. When we get home from it we will have to finish the driveway and cut the grass. Then we will be getting ready for another work week. I have several meetings and homecoming supervisions next week which will keep us very busy. Whew.... I'm getting tired already just thinking about. Maybe things will slow down....... just in time for the holidays. Ha ha!

Lessons At The Fence Post

"You cannot draw water from an empty well...You cannot give a person what you do not have."

"You must learn to give to others without expectation of return."

The above quotes were taken from the book Lessons At The Fence Post, a book of quotes that a grandson recorded as his grandfather's most influential quotes. These particular two stuck out in my mind as I read the book. Often times we are not able to give material gifts to others as we would like or as they would expect. Sometimes the most important gifts in life are not materialistic or tangible at all. Sometimes they are merely caring words of concern, comforting shoulders to cry on, listening ears, acts of kindness, prayerful hearts, time, love, or attention for your little ones. Meaningful gifts are given with a pure heart and without expectation of anything in return. I encourage you as well as myself to give more "self" and fewer gifts that don't require any of yourself at all.

Busy, busy, week.

This week has been so busy. We had to get grades and progress reports ready for the kids this week and it was fair week on top of that. They are soooooo wild during fair week. It was fun but I'm glad it's over. Homecoming week is coming up soon which means afterschool float building and dress up days. This is fun and the kids are exceptionally wild and hyper during Homecoming week. We finish the week with a parade. It is so exciting! This morning I had to be at school at 7 to administer the ACT test. This allows me an opportunity to make a little extra money for Christmas. I have already started my list and I have bought a few gifts. We are still working on the chair and horse for Raegan. They are looking GREAT! I'm also working on a special scrapbooking project for my mom. Shhhhh! It's a surprise for her. I am going to put pictures in it of my brother and I when we were kids. I think she will really like it. Then I'll make a section for Grandbabies...... to be continued of course.

Fair Time in Lincoln County!

Tonight Scott and I took Raegan to the fair. She enjoyed the lights and the music. We took her to see the farm animals and ride the carousel. Scott entered the homemade wine contest and won 2nd place for his first attempt.

Raegan and momma on the carousel.

Daddy and Raegan looking at the minature horses. She loved them!

What a day!

We got out of class early tonight. I can really get used to this kinda class. The professor even said we might get out early a few minutes tomorrow. She is an older lady with lots of wisdom and experience to share and she tells the most wonderful stories about her teaching career. She has worked in so many areas of teaching and administration. She seems to have enthusiasm that is contagious.

Today I got a surprise visit from a former student. I have worked with him in Biology for several years. The first time I had him he would not do any work and was pretty uncooperative so he did not pass. He had been in trouble for drugs and discipline problems. Then he came back to me a year later. I asked him why in the world he was in my class again and he said I asked them if I could be in your class and the guidance department sent him to find out if I would let him back in my class. ( Usually repeaters go to another teacher for their sake and ours.) We had a long talk and I agreed to let him stay if he promised to do the work required of him and pass this time. He worked diligently and actually completed the course up until the last 2 weeks of class with an A average. We were getting ready for the state test when police officers came to school and arrested him. We were all stunned! His father and his grandmother are his primary caregivers. His mother left a long time ago and no one really knows much about her anymore. This child had turned to me and another female teacher as his maternal support system. It may not sound strange to you but it was to us. This student, a 17-year old black male who had a problem with authority had latched on to us, two white female teachers. The other teacher is in her late 50's and I was only 25 at the time. A judge sent us a letter to be at a hearing for him before school was out and then another one over the summer. The statute of limitations was running out. The student had apparently sold drugs to an undercover agent almost a year to the date that they arrested him. We had seen such a dramatic change in character. His behavior, appearance, attitude, peer influence and basically everything about him had changed..... and now this. They drug tested him on the spot that day only to find that he was not using drugs but he had to be sent off anyways because he was being convicted of a felony charge as a minor. We devised a plan of action with the authorities and his family to keep him in school and rehabilitate him. We arranged to give him the state tests at the court house while he sat with his ankles shackled and a police officer supervising him. He was not allowed to take the test for Biology due to his ship off date. I was not there the day they told him but I was told that he cried his eyes out because he made me a promise and he was trying so hard to keep it. The state offers a re-test in July so I sent him some study materials to the group home where he was placed. He came by today to let me know that he passed the test and he was doing well and back with his family. He will get to graduate this spring. This young man who I came to admire greatly through his personal struggles and triumphs said I influenced him so much but he may never truly know the impact that he has had on me. Sure, every story doesn't end like this one. Many students do fall by the waist side but it is because of stories like this that I feel called to teach. Today I cried tears of joy for his perseverance and drive to overcome what most just give up on.

Is it Friday yet?

Boy how I have started to look forward to my weekends. Don't get me wrong. I really like my kiddos this year. They are an exceptionally sweet bunch of kids. I have 75 students from now until Christmas. Then in January I will get anywhere from 75-95 new ones. Our school runs on the block schedule where students take 4 classes a day for 1 1/2 hrs each day. I really enjoy teaching on the block and most of the students like it after they adjust to it. This type of schedule prepares them for college and allows them opportunities to experience more application of what they have learned in the regular classroom setting.

Tomorrow is my first official class meeting. I am excited, nervous, anxious, and ready to begin this new chapter of my life. I just hope I can keep this same drive for the next 2 yrs. I used to say I would be a professional student if I could afford it. The schedule seems to be such a blessing. My classes are on Friday night and Saturdays. My in-laws are going to keep Raegan extra time on Friday until Scott gets off work and then he can watch her during the day on Saturday. Thank goodness for their support and encouragement. Everyone knows how much this means to me. I'll keep you posted on how it goes.

Where does the time go?

Well the long weekend is over! It really seemed to fly by. We were able to get a lot of things done around the house. Scott and I have been working on cleaning and rearranging the attic at night when Raegan goes to bed. Then we have cleaned and done other projects around the house. Of course we have played with Raegan every chance we have had. She is so into music and dancing and she's quite funny busting a move. We laugh hysterically at her sometimes. She has been doing the "chicken dance" all weekend. She squats down and takes both arms and flaps them like a chicken and then dances to any kind of music. I bet you didn't know that the chicken dance could be done to so many songs. LOL!

This week at work will be shorter but just as busy as all of the rest and then to top it off my first class meeting is this coming up weekend. We hope to continue working a little more on the spare bedroom upstairs this week and possibly work on a Christmas present for Raegan. We bought a rocking horse and chair for her and we are going to stain them both. We have done this in the past for our nephews when they were this age and it is a tradition we want to continue with our own children.

Hope you all have a good rest of the week and God Bless.

Happy Birthday Tyler!

Happy 8th Birthday to our nephew Tyler. Hope you had a great day. We love you!

Love,

Uncle Scotty, Aunt Amy, and Raegan