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Thank you and God Bless,

The Clemons Family

Merry Christmas 2011!!!!!!

This Christmas was filled with lots of laughter and great fellowship, warm hearts and happy memories. We enjoyed ourselves.....we enjoyed each other....we enjoyed the things that really matter...like cherished loved ones, family, and friends. Time seemed to fly as we told stories, reminisced about the days of old, and remembered loved ones that had gone on to be with our Heavenly Father.

Long time...no post

We have been so busy lately and I haven't been keeping up with the blog as well as I should have. So here's an attempt at a long overdue update.....Scott had knee surgery last month but he has recovered and back to work now. He is doing much better with the repairs.

Raegan has been a busy girl. She finished her first soccer season and enjoyed every minute of it. However, she enjoyed cheering for the team almost as much as playing the game....which leads us to her newest adventure. She is going to cheer for jr. pro basketball at her school. There are about 8 little girls on her squad and she is super excited about it! If she likes cheerng that much then we may sign her up for gymnastics. Recently Raegan was also the flower girl for homecoming. It's hard to believe she could be big enough to do all of these things....it seems like yesterday she was just a toddler. Time sure does fly!

My schedule has been really hectic lately...Monday 3-D Academy (professional development), Tuesday-Thursday... teach enrichment before and afterschool...Friday and Saturday....grad school classes.....Sunday...teach 3 yr olds. AHHHHHHH! Thank goodness things are finally winding down. I have finished my first semester of my Ed.S. but not without a few stumbling blocks. The work is much more difficult for this degree than it was for my Master's and school (work) has added so many more responsibilities with changing policies and updated federal and state standards. I always knew that public education was tougher than most people realized but now it is drastically changing, making the jobs of teachers and administrators much more challenging. Additionally, I have completed Administrator training with the superintendent of schools and survived an interview with the other supervisors. That was definitely an experience. I have also survived 2 of my 4 professional evaluations for the year. I will finish my remedial/enrichment classes soon as the students get ready to take the state end-of-course exam. I only have one more session of 3-D Academy professional development...Wooohooo!

So as you can tell....we have been very busy to say the least. We are looking forward to the upcoming holidays and time spent with family and friends. Christmas is my favorite time of year and I am looking forward to time off to enjoy it with my family.

Staying busy..........

Well my ED.S classes are well under way. Some of my classmates and I have commented lately, "what did we ever get ourselves into?". The schedule is busy and the assignments are tough but I am making it. My plate seems to be filling up rather quickly with professional and personal responsibilities. All I can do is take it one day at a time...one step...one moment at a time. With the new evaluation models changing we have received so much pressure at work. I have had the "toughest" evaluator for my last 2 evaluations....but it went very well....definitely all God. Then I wrote for a grant that I never expected to get ...but I did...another God thing. He really has been helping me out lately to fulfill my dreams and desires. I'm excited about the opportunities and I can't wait to find out what the future holds.

Raegan is really enjoying soccer. She loves to run. She loves being part of a team. We are so proud of her. Even though she's the smallest and the youngest...she's still a trooper. She is enjoying school but this year has been a major adjustment for her. Many of her friends from last year have moved away due to family and financial situations so she has been busy making new friends but still missing the old ones. She has 2 new teachers this year and she is staying all day instead of half days. She is learning so many new things. She loves to draw more than anything else. Everytime we turn around she is drawing us pictures. She loves to play dress up and still loves dolls...a girl after my own heart. Next month she is going to take part in homecoming at my school. She will be the flower girl. She is very excited about the occassion and getting to dress up. She doesn't know it yet but she and her escort will get to ride in the parade on top of a convertible. She is mostly excited about being on the football field with the cheerleaders.

Guess what begins this weekend!

YOU guessed it!!!!!! COLLEGE! I'm getting my ED.S!
Join me in this journey as a working mother...teacher...wife...and college student! I am excited about the opportunities that may come from earning this degree. I know that God has plans for me and I am ready for whatever he sends my way.

Life's a BEACH!!!!

Summer days are coming to an end.

Summer days are coming to an end. We are getting ready for a new school year. Tonight we had orientation for Jr. Kindergarten at school. We found out that Raegan will be with the older 4 year olds even though she will be the youngest in the class. Due to low registration numbers we were expecting her to be placed in the class of mixed 3 and 4 year olds. I was disappointed because I felt like she would be repeating a lot of the same curriculum and that she would not grow to her full potential with the younger children who had never been in preschool. However, I accepted the decision and did some heavy duty praying that God would place her where she needed to be. So tonight I was very surprised to find out that she was placed with the older kids. Her teacher told me that it would be more beneficial for her to be with the older group because she needed to be challenged!She said Raegan knows the curriculum from last year...she needs more...she's ready for more. She said that she was placed because of her ability not because of her age. Talk about an answer to prayers....all the glory goes to HIM.


We have been enjoying our days of sleeping in and staying up late. We have been swimming, grilling out, enjoying movies and playing outside. I hate to see summer vacation ending and the school year nearing yet I am excited about the opportunities that lie ahead for us. I will be teaching a new forensics course and 3 honors courses along with my regular biology class this year which I am excited about and also a little nervous about. College classes will begin next month which is another "new" for our comfortable lives. Scott and I are also teaching preschoolers on rotation at church. He is moving to another fire station very soon and Raegan will begin AYSO soccer this season. This year brings with it many "new" things. Raegan's newest accomplishment is that she has learned to tie her shoes. All summer she has been wearing flip flops/ sandals.... I had almost forgotten that she could tie her shoes by herself. The other day she sat down in the floor and tied up her shoes without any help. She is so proud of herself....grinning from ear to ear as she shows anyone who will let her. I love the tenacity of this little girl....she is precious to me!

Summer days have been filled with lots of swimming and playing outside. Our family has been very busy with vacation and family reunions....birthdays and other celebrations. We are gearing up for Raegan's birthday party next weekend. Its hard to believe that she is going to be 4 years old. It amazes me to watch her and see how much she has grown over the past year...figuratively, spiritually, and literally. Everyone keeps commenting...."look how tall she's gotten." Lately we have had people guessing that she is 5 or 6 when really she is still 3. She's a talker....never meets a stranger and usually carries a contagious smile that can light up a room in seconds. She's my spunky little girl and if you couldn't tell I'm very proud of her. I can't believe how much she has accomplished this year. She is writing her name and a few other words...like cat, dog, cow, and pig. She colors in the lines and can add and subtract numbers under 10. Although, I would like to attribute her accomplishments to her intelligence I have to give most of the credit to her wonderful teachers at Riverside Christian Academy. They have the best staff at RCA. Its so funny .....its such a small school that she literally knows kids of all ages. I called this week to find out about some things for the upcoming year...they were like "oh yeah... you're Raegan's mom."
Things are going to busy for us next year. Raegan will be playing soccer in the fall and cheerleading in the spring....all at her request. Scott has taken on a part-time job since firefighting only schedules him 10 days a month. He is really enjoying the new job. I will be back in grad school in the fall and teaching some new classes as well. I told him that this is probably my last degree for a while...college is so expensive. He has been so encouraging...saying never to let money stand in the way of my dreams....he said if I want to coninue after my Ed.S. then do it and not to ever worry about the money. I am a lucky girl to be married to this man. Sometimes I take him for granted like all of us do when we have a good one. It has been almost 11 years for us (7+ married). I am proud to be his wife and to share the joys of parenting our precious daughter.

Baby Hayden is finally here!!!!

Big Cousin Raegan....she is so happy that he is finally here!





I am so proud to be an AUNT!!!!!

Becoming an aunt.....

We will have a new addition joining our family very soon. I am very excited about becoming an aunt. My brother and his wife Amanda are going to bless our family with a little boy.....Hayden Thomas. We can't wait to meet him! We are making plans and awaiting his BIG debut. Raegan is very excited about being a "BIG COUSIN". She has been practicing how to hold Hayden with her baby dolls. It is the sweetest thing to watch. I know they are really going to enjoy each other.

Warmer weather.....in the very near future.

This weekend we got a taste of summer with warm weather nearing the 90's. Saturday we ventured off to Noccolula Falls with my in-laws to a BBQ cook-off. We rode the train at the park and saw the animals at the petting zoo. Fun was had by all! Then on Sunday afternoon we continued some of our chores at home. We planted more monkey grass along the front side walk and cut the grass. Raegan decorated the driveway with chalk art. Scott finished cleaning the pool....minus some leaves that we have to get out very soon. We finished the evening with a brief fishing trip at the lake near our house. The excitement of the day was when Raegan caught her very first fish. She was so excited and we were too! I can't wait to be out for summer vacation. The three of us are going to have so much fun!

It's been a while....

We have been so busy and I have not been updating the blog regularly....but here goes.

Raegan is loving her preschool. She got her 3rd quarter report card recently and has improved in every area so we treated her to shrimp at Bonefish and bought her a babydoll. Praise and reward made all the difference in my educational efforts so we are carrying that on with her. She can now name the books of the Bible and the Apostles....she has tied her shoes twice. She is growing and learning by leaps and bounds... It is hard to believe that she will only be 4 in July. She seems so grown up already. She uses so many "Big" words when she is talking to us. She keeps us entertained to say the least. The biggest change for us recently has been her hair.....Yes, we finally cut those beautiful locks....10+ inches that is. She has been wanting a haircut and decided on her own to donate it to Locks of Love, an organization that makes wigs for children. I almost didn't have the heart to let her. When she told me that she could grow her own hair and the other little girls couldn't and begged me to do it for them I had to give in. I am proud of her big heart but I also had a hard time giving up those beautiful curls.....So for now my big hearted girl is sporting a cute little bob hairstyle....and I will leave you with that......God Bless!

Great News!!!!

This week has been the first week that we have actually been 5 days instead of the usually staggered 3 days due to snow. It was quite a challenge getting back in full swing. However, my students were a pleasure to teach despite the many adjustments. This week has been very engaging for them and for myself. On Friday, I received some unexpected but welcomed news. I have been selected LCHS Teacher of the Year. I am very honored and humbled to have been selected by my colleagues to represent the school. I feel very blessed and I just wanted to share the news.

2011 Update

My brother Alex and his wife Amanda are having a boy. Sweet baby Hayden is due to join our family the end of May. We are all so excited and can't wait to meet him. Raegan is very excited to be a "Big" cousin and have a little baby around. Every time we go somewhere she wants to buy something for him. She is very thoughtful and reminds us of all the things that he will be needing for when he comes to our house. Sounds like she could get used to a little one around! We are planning a shower and have almost all the details worked out for a great celebration. She has also enjoyed picking out all of the stuff with me.


We had a wonderful Christmas and were surprised with a beautiful snow on Christmas morning. Then after winter break we reluctantly returned to school for a few short days only to be hit by the third biggest winter blast in the history of weather record keeping for our area. We were blasted with 8-10 inches of snowy bliss which earned us a nice week-long vacation from school. Then our regular holiday of MLK day fell into the mix.....ah 6 days in a row of no school. I have been delighted to spend these days at home with my family. I cherish these moments....partly because I know I'll never be able to turn back the hands of time and get them back and also because I love them so much.

On Friday, the roads became safer for travel so I ventured out for another post-op checkup from my October ear surgery. My grandmother was getting cabin fever so she decided to ride with me and Raegan since Scott was working. The last time I was in the office I had to have more packing removed and my ear suctioned. This is always pretty painful and makes me a little dizzy and nauseated so it was best that I had someone with me. Plus, she and Raegan are buddies and she was able to help me look after her while I was in the office. Long story ...short....the doctor decided not to wait the planned 6 months to do my secondary surgery. Instead he felt the need to do it as soon as it would fit in my schedule. So he scheduled it for Monday morning. After rushing to the lab before it closed for the weekend to have blood work done we finally made it home late that evening. Thank God my grandmother decided to go along for the ride. She was so much help.

Well, today is Monday. I had my surgery this morning. Little did we know that I had fluid backed up in both eardrums and some behind one of them. The drums are retracted so far back in the left ear that it is touching the third bone and creating retraction pockets that could lead to cholesteotomas if not treated. This minor operation should improve my hearing and reduce the risk of further damage from the retractions and reduce the chance of future ear infections. I am finally coming around from the anasthesia and am looking forward to returning to work tomorrow.

The first month of 2011 has already proven to be an eventful beginning. I was planning to start my Ed.S in the fall. However, this week my school superintendent sent me some information about a similar program leading to an Ed.D. I have always wanted my doctorate degree and this may be an answer to prayers....a chance of a lifetime. Scott and I are very excited about this opportunity. The completion time will be the same as the Ed.S but it will be a higher degree for the same investment. Pleas pray that everything works out and that all the cards will fall into place. We had been planning a differnt course for our lives and for our family and became frustrated and disappointed when things hadn't gone as "we" necessarily had planned. However, I have been giving it to God and praying for some direction because I know that I can't do it all by myself. He has shed new light on my path and I feel like his plan is becoming clearer to me now. All the praise and glory be to HIM.

Well all good things must come to an end.

This has been a great year. We have so much to be thankful for. This semester has been productive. It feels weird not to be in school while teaching school. I found out my classes have been postponed until next fall. This has been a blessing in disguise because although the semester has been productive it has been challenging. On another note...our family has bounced back from a few hits. Mom survived life threatening surgery and was recently rleased to go back to work. My grandmother and I both had surgery in October and we are both doing great. Scott is completing his first full year with the fire dept. and loves his job. He looks forward to going to work every shift. Raegan and I have had to adjust to being the daughter and wife of a firefighter. Raegan is learning so much at school. We love RCA and it has been a blessing to all of us. She has made so many new friends. She can read her name although writing it is still a work in progress. She prides herself in weekly Bible verse memorizations. She absolutely loves to sing and dance. I am so proud of this sweet, sassy little girl. My brother and his wife married this year and we will soon find out whether their new addition will be a girl or a boy. We are beyond excited and can't wait. Being a mom is the best gift in the world but being an aunt is second best to having your own....loving the idea of spoiling and sending them home so watch out Alex and Amanda. 2010 has been a great year. I look forward to finishing it out with the ones I love most. We can't wait til the Christmas program, lights in Nashville, living Christmas tree, Noccalula falls, parties with friends and gatherings with family. Thank you to everyone who has been a part of making memories in 2010.

Congratulations Alex and Amanda

I am so happy for my brother and his new bride. The wedding was lovely! They both looked amazing! Everything fell into place perfectly. I pray that the two of them share a beautiful marriage filled with health and happiness. Wishing you both all my love.

Love,
Sister

Brrrrrrrrr!

It seems as if we have completely skipped autumn and gone straight into winter. Yesterday when I pulled in the driveway from work it was actually sleeting. Wow its only 19 days until Thanksgiving and shortly after it will be Christmas. Let's just say I am looking forward to some time off and spending time with my family. I am NOT looking forward to the hassle of the holidays, though. There is so much to do and yet so little time to do it all. Work has gotten more stressful lately because of the RACE TO THE TOP program. In education we have made a deal with the devil to get all this money for education. They are absolutely working us to death! Next Tuesday I have meetings before and after school. I never seem to get enough time to actually "teach"....Instead we are becoming more and more bogged down with surveys, online courses, meetings, paperwork, etc. Oh well, enough complaining. Alex and Amanda are getting married next weekend....a week from today. YIKES! Time has flown by with this wedding planning. Raegan is very excited about getting to wear her "marry" dress aka her flower girl dress. Preschool is going great. Raegan is making so many new friend. In fact, today we are going to her friend Josie's birthday party. She has done so well for being the baby. She even won the spirit award for her class during Homecoming week. She says when she grows up that she wants to be a dancing cheerleader....let me tell you she plays the part well. She especially likes learning songs and memory verses each week. I am amazed at what she can remember. These little ones are like sponges, soaking it all up. Scott has been asked to come to her school to talk about fire safety and being a firefighter. She can't wait for him to come. I am a little sad that I will miss it. Wish us luck as we get out in the cold today. We don't deal with COLD well in the south.

Things are looking up!

We are finally beginning to feel "human" again. Grammy is doing great from her gallbladder surgery. Mom got the staples out and is getting around pretty well. She still has a long road but is expected to recover. She is still getting IV's twice a day and has about 4 weeks of that left. I went to the doctor for a post-surgery checkup and got most of the packing removed. It will take some more time to determine if the surgery was successful at restoring my hearing. I am still hurting off and on but things are looking up. In the meantime, we have all had a little cold going around at our house but now we are doing better.

Wedding plans are in the works and it will soon be here. We attended a wedding shower today for Alex and Amanda and have another one to go to tomorrow. The flowers are all finished and the details are coming together for the rest of the decorations. Raegan's dress finally came in and it fits great. I got my dress and we have ordered Scott's tux. We are finishing the final plans for the rehearsal dinner and desserts.

It looks like school plans have changed slightly. I was going to begin college again in January to get my ED.S but they have decided to start the program up in the fall. This may be a blessing in disguise since things have been so hectic lately. I am looking forward to going back to school but this will probably be my last degree for a while. LOL! Everytime I say that my dad says yeah right until the next one rolls around but I'm serious this time.

Raegan got her first report card from school. We are proud of her and all she has accomplished. I love to see how much she loves school....ahhh evidently just like her mommy. She works intently to memorize her Bible verses. They recite one a week on Fridays and then they get to go to the treasure chest. We practice with her each week and she enjoys the praise and the reward for her success. She has made many friends at school and I am proud to see her personality through her interactions with these little friends. We plan to send her there next year but after that I'm not sure what will happen. Private school is so expensive but such an investment so I am praying about it!

My sweet husband has been a blessing lately. He has helped clean the house, take care of me and my mom, and cooked for us. He has been so thoughtful and kind while things have been so crazy. He has been a rock to me! I love you Scott....I can't believe that 10 years ago this month we met. Neither of us were too serious about a relationship but we were crazy about each other. You told me to just let it go where it was meant to go...get on the train and ride...and so here we are. We are committed in a wonderful marriage and still crazy about each other. Thank you for 10 great years of being yours.

Special thanks in our time of need.....

This past week has been so stressful but in the midst of it all, God's mercy has been with us. He has kept us all healthy and well during this trial. On Wednesday of last week my mother had a preparatory surgery where doctors harvested veins for 4 hours to prepare for a major operation on Thursday. On Thursday, the team of doctors completed a bifemoral artery bypass and stint replacemnet in 8 1/2 hours where they removed infected grafts in her femoral arteries, replaced them, and connected them to the abdominal aorta. On Friday, I had a tympanoplasty and mastoidectomy on my right ear to remove a lesion on the bones, repair the eardrum and drill the bones behind the ear to remove infection. Then on Monday my mother also had a minor surgery to put in a Hickman catheter/ central line. To say that our family has been hit hard is an understatement. Miraculously, my mother was disimssed home today. She will recover at home with home health services for the next few months. She will receive IV antibiotics for the next 6 weeks which will be administered by my wonderful husband and great aunt twice a day. Next week my grandmother will have gallbladder surgery. To add to all this excitement...my brother and his girlfriend...now fiancee have announced their engagement and upcoming wedding. WOW!!!!! All I can say is thanks be to God....because without HIM we would have never made it. I know many prayers were going up on our behalf this past week and we have definitely felt HIS presence in our time of need. Special thanks to the many friends and loved ones for all your acts of kindness. Thanks to everyone who pitched in to be at the hospital, cards, flowers, food, and for loving my child when I couldn't be there with her. Thank you to the saints... I mean aunts who gave mom's house a facelift and thorough cleaning so that she would have a comfortable place to come home to. Thank you for the countless acts of kindness that you all have shown. My family is forever grateful and blessed because of you.