Just Sittin' on My Fence

So today we had a faculty meeting, started with the usual stuff... then got to a slap in the face. I really don't know how to feel about this subject. Need some feed back from you all. I mean one way I feel racist.... and then the other way I feel taken advantage of. Let me just start from the beginning... Last week at the end of Drivers Ed. class, I had a couple of Hispanic students come up to my desk... one of them in broken English said... we don't speak English... and just looked at me. I was kinda taken aback, didn't quite know what to say at that point... which doesn't happen very often. So I looked at her and said, I am sorry this is an English Drivers Ed. class. I have really been thinking about this though... Is it my responsibility as a teacher to accommodate to these girls? I mean honestly part of me feels that they are in an English dominant country... so they should accommodate to us. But, then the other part of me loves all kids and wants them to be successful. Which leads to our faculty meeting today, my principal stated that our district is getting monitored by the federal government now because we don't accommodate to minorities within our schools. I guess I just feel like.. Why should it be my job to accommodate to them? Would they do the same for me? And then I just feel selfish for thinking that... I am definitely sitting on the fence here.. !! It just seems to me that responsibility should be on both sides... somehow !!??? Any thoughts or input you have would be great !! In the meantime... I am just gonna sit here on my fence and enjoy the view .. :)

My Wish For You

I have had many friends in my life come and go. But, I have had few friends, that I have felt I knew before this life... Andee is one of them !! Through good times and bad, we have always found one another and made that connection. It is her birthday tomorrow... She loves "Rascal Flatts". Whenever I hear this song from them, I think of people dear, and close to my heart. I can't think of a better song to share with my best friend on her birthday. Andal my Love Handle... this is my wish for you....



I hope the days come easy and the moments pass slow,
and each road leads you where you want to go,
and if you're faced with a choice, and you have to choose,
I hope you choose the one that means the most to you.
and if one door opens to another door closed,
I hope you keep on walkin' 'til you find the window,
if it's cold outside,
show the world the warmth of your smile,
but more than anything, more than anything,



My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,
your dreams stay big, your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more than you can hold,
and while you're out there getting where you're getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,
Yeah, this, is my wish.



I hope you never look back, but ya never forget,
all the ones who love you, in the place you left,
I hope you always forgive, and you never regret,
and you help somebody every chance you get,
Oh, you find God's grace, in every mistake,
and always give more then you take.




But more than anything, Yeah, and more than anything,




My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,
your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more than you can hold,
and while you're out there getting where you're getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,
Yeah, this, is my wish.




My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,
your dreams stay big, your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more than you can hold,
and while you're out there getting where you're getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,
Yeah, this, is my wish.
this is my wish
I hope you know somebody loves you
may all your dreams stay big !!!



HAPPY BIRTHDAY !! I love you !! Did before, do now, will after this life... :)

My Blue Snuggly

I have been teaching at Dixie now for five years !! The longest I have been anywhere teaching... and I don't plan on going anywhere soon. In fact, when people retire from Dixie, they get an engraved homemade rocking chair... I am gettin me one of those !! But, because of my longevity there, I have accumulated quite the collection of t-shirts. Most of them have a special meaning or memory associated with them. But, unfortunately most of them just gather dust in my closet. Soo I asked one my students to have his mom make me a quilt out of them. I love it !! It turned out awesome... and now I can snuggle with all my memory filled t-shirts !! :) Thanks Jeffrey's mom !!

The Plastic War

My lovely sister bought me a copy of the "Twilight Movie" the night it came out. Um.... I was a little excited to watch it, and might have got a little carried away with the scissors when opening it. Um... Yah !! Needless to say, there is no plastic whatsoever between me and my Edward now. :) I need a life...

Unique Beauties

This weekend I took the boys to Red Cliffs Park. We used to always go up there when I was little, while visiting my gramps. The scenery is gorgeous, and so unique in colors and textures. There is running rivers, red rock, yellow limestone, old decayed trees, cactuses, flowering plants... a variety of things to see and observe. As I was watching the boys run around and do their thing, I enjoyed seeing their personalities shine through as they hiked down the river. I captured it in this slide show. They are truly all different and unique, but so beautiful to me... as is the Red Cliffs that we visited!! :)

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Nibbling Some Cheeks

Just nibbling on my butterflies cheeks :) I mean seriously how can you not ??!!

Nina Drama

Had a little drama with my Nina Bean this past weekend. Actually, I was most of the drama. Seriously, it is a good thing I don't have kids cause if they got hurt I would be a basket case. I took Nina to one of Mikey's baseball games. Taloo wanted to take her for a walk, and Nina got into some burr territory. They were all over her. So I brought her home, oiled her up and got most of them out. Unfortunately, there were some that were so deeply matted into her fur, that I had to cut her. She wasn't enjoying any of this one bit..so I was trying to hurry. Which then led to me cutting her arm open with the scissors !! Yah, nice mom !! So in th midst of her bleeding everywhere, and me bahling, and debating about taking her to ER... she got a full haircut !! I kinda like her short. :) But, my little Bean is okay now. She was a little traumatized cause her mom sliced and diced her, but she still loves me.. most of the time !! As long as I am giving her treats.. Me I am still a basket case !! :)

Bling Bligin'

In the good old days... boys would have got the crap beat out of them if they wore diamonds, or pink, or permed their hair. Now, it is dope !! :) ....cool to do these things. Last time Cooper was down, we were driving somewhere and he said.."Tampa, I like pink.. and I don't care!!" Pretty soon I guess I will see him wearing some bling too... Cause if you aint bling blingin, you are not cool !!?? :) Teeny boppers and their weird trends.. I never did anything weird ??!! :) My model below is Jose... the kid is the king of bling blingin' !!

Spiritual Tanning

So today Wulfie and I are walking out to the baseball game during fourth.. and low and behold, we find good old Josh MacArthur laying in the middle of the football field tanning and reading his scriptures !! Freaking hilarious... as a teacher, I see it all !!

Cooper's Birthday Post

My Goobs turned four two days ago !! So buddy this post is for you...

Goobs... Your bright blue eyes light up my life....













Your smile makes all my "ouies" go away.....















Your hugs make me believe I can do anything !!....















When I am with you, I have so much fun.....
















You always make me laugh with funny faces, and
your stories...















When you run to hug me and yell my name... my
heart melts....














I am so proud of the big boy you are becoming...






















Just know that wherever you are... I will always be here
for you..






















Goobs you are priceless to me... Don't ever change !!






















HAPPY BIRTHDAY BUDDY !! TAMPA LOVES YOU VERY MUCH !!

Growing Butterfly

My little butterfly.. is not so little anymore... :)

Wowee Wow Wow !!

WOW !!! WOW !!! Adam's performance last night was just... WOW !! He is amazing... and my pick this year. His getup kinda bugs a little.. but he is hot and has the WOW !!

State Champ

Chun is one of my old drivers ed. students and will hang in my room at lunch once in awhile. He is a great athlete and kid. At first, I misjudged him to be a cocky, little punk. But, I was wrong... got to know him a little better when he drove with me to get his license. He just took the state championship for wrestling.. which is just freakin cool. What was even cooler is the picture they took of him right after he won. I asked him if I could put it on here cause it is just one of those pics that speaks volumes, and captures a moment that you like to look at and remember from time to time. :) Proud of you Chun !! You done good !!

Me Birfday

So on Friday, I turned 21 again for like the tenth year in a row. I have mastered this age !! :) It was a great day. Thanks to everyone that called, Facebooked, wrote, and text me. I am blessed with great family and friends and am constantly amazed at how lucky I am in that area. I got some great gifts.. my department got me some balloons, a crown, cake, and Victoria Secret Depends.. :) Yah, they are sexy !! Pops got me money, Stace and Charlie got me Bath and Body, and Baby Tessa got me a cute little plaque that says, "My Aunt, like mom, but cooler"... made me happy. I got some great cards from Smel, Andal my Love Handle, and Bob, and a bunch of calls from my cute nephews, and my Angia. Then Shell got me fried donuts, and an awesome necklace from "Busy Biddy". A highlight was my Kels Kels bringing me flowers and doing a post about me on her blog.... Cried a little... :) Her man brought me a smoking pet whale.. He named it for me.. but I can't remember.. Help me Kels. All in all... I am lucky in life !! :) Thanks everybody !!

Baby Scare

Tessa came to visit me last week. It was good to see her at school. I got to show her off to everyone. Most people when they see a newborn that is as cute as Tessa.. tend to goo and gaa, and want to hold her. Um, but of course Wulfie comes from a different mold and was quite perplexed with her. In fact, he was scared.. which was hilarious to me !!! He tried to talk to her like an adult about God, and where she came from. His deep, manly voice scared her a bit... but, I did convince him to hold her... for a minute. :)

Jack is Da Man !!

This past weekend I was bored... so I caught up on Tivo.. had about five 24's to watch. All I gotta say is Jack is da man !! He kicks ass and I love it.. and that's all I have to say...

You're Nothing Without Your Story

Allright !! I finally watched "Australia" with Shell and Jose.. and then the next night with my pops... WOW !! It was freakin awesome... not only for the fact that Hugh Jackman is yummy, but the story was just beautiful.



The little boy that plays the main character stole my heart. The scenary was breathtaking. The message that was brought across really hit home.





There is a part in the movie where Hugh is talking to Nicole Kidman.. and basically he says, "You can lose everything, but that doesn't matter as long as you have your story, your dream. You're nothin without your story." This message was interwoven through out the whole movie. And the old, grandpa, aboriggini dude.. kicked butt. Love it !!! If you haven't seen it... DO IT !! Thumbs up all the way for me !!

Someday I Will Be A Real Girl

I feel that one of our big purposes in being here on this earth is to create something of importance... Whether it is through our careers, churches, or family. To some their masterpiece is a child, to others it might be a painting, symphony, or movie, and to more it might be their career or a calling in church. I think of the story "Pinnochio" fondly. One of my favorite Disney songs from that movie is, "When You Wish Upon a Star..."



This story can relate to all that apply it. Here is a puppet made out of wood, created by Gepetto his master. He must go through trials and temptations in order to become a real boy, and get his wish granted... And through that miracle of wishing, Gepetto's masterpiece becomes real... and Pinocchio's wish comes true. So what I take from this story... is that the real masterpiece we must create in this life is ourself.. and our creator is our God. The things we create... movies, art, children, careers, church callings.. all encompass and add to creating ourselves. I got an email from Shell the other day about a Baptist contractor that was asked to build the Mormon temple. It was awesome.. Here is a part of that email..

"As the temple neared its completion, the general contractor and I had occasion to chat one more time. I knew that he was a staunch baptist, one of the churches, in fact, that was so vocal in its protest over our building a temple in Houston. Over the months, we had become friends, and so I felt no qualms in asking him just what his feelings were, as a baptist, building a mormon temple. I'll never forget what he told me.

"In ancient times", he said, "building work was overseen by guilds. The guild masters were the ones who saw to it that the integrity of the craft over which they labored was the best it could be. If you wanted to enter the guild you had to begin as an apprentice and dedicate long years with little or no pay. The master under whom you labored, gave you room and board and your tools. Eventually, you became a journeyman in the guild and you got paid. However, if you wanted to become a master of the guild, you had to present a sample of your work to be judged by the other masters. It had to be a work of outstanding beauty and flawless quality for it was the work by which your skills would be judged. It had to be a work that would weather the ages and it was called, 'a masterpiece'"

The contractor continued, "Every building I've ever built has been one where money won out over quality. I've never been able to do the best I'm capable of because of budget restraints. If I'm grateful for one thing, it's that you mormons don't skimp when it comes to your temples. For once, I'm able to build to the quality I'm really capable of"

Then he looked out over the temple and his gaze came back to me. His eyes were tearing up a bit and he swept his hand back towards the temple and his voice got a little reverent, "This is my masterpiece", He said.

I've been building buildings for almost thirty years. If been doing it so long, in fact, that they are beginning to tear down buildings that I was sure would live as a testament to my presence long after I was gone from this earth.

I'm really grateful I had a chance to work on The Houston Temple."














Through building his masterpiece, the contractor became a better self. So my ultimate plan is to continue to create masterpieces within my life... as students walk in my room with a frown, and leave with a smile... or building relationships that matter with family and friends, or whatever I choose to create at the time. My wish is that it is beautiful to it's creator, me.. so that it adds beauty to the ultimate creator. And through this my ultimate goal, as was Pinnochio's, I will keep wishing on that star... cause someday I am going to be a "real" girl !! :)