A Real Fall and Cooking!

Two things that I really enjoy, I know someone will never believe this is cooking and fall weather.  This morning I got up and decided to try some kind of new soup recipe.  Jeff is still on soft foods and we need something more than taco soup, chicken noodle soup or potato soup.  So off to Bonham Wal-Mart I go to find fixings for Pumpkin and Pork Chili.  The weather is great today. The sun is shining and I have have on my long sleeve t-shirt and jeans.  If you can't tell I'm pretty excited about this day.  I finished the chili--it smells really good and have been watching the Aggies--they scare me into turning it off occasionally.  Even after all the years I spent at A&M and singing the "Spirit of Aggieland" at the end of a "run out of time" game, I know just hate watching it get close.  Hope this chili tastes as good as it smells!

Spending time with the hubby!

Today, Jeff and I decided we were just going to have a "do nothing day."  In other words, no packing, unpacking, cleaning, moving furniture, grading papers, and anything else that sounds like work.  So first on the agenda, get dressed--its always good to at least be clean and dressed!  For those who don't know, Jeff has started a series of oral surgeries and so soft food was on the agenda for lunch.  We headed to On the Border, were we shared their Jalapeno BBQ Grilled Salmon--it was delicious.  We couldn't decided what to do next--we really didn't need anything--nothing for the house--nothing for the pantry--we still have most of our stuff packed--and we have plenty!  So what do two people with no children at home do--head to downtown McKinney and go through the shops on the square.  I love antiques and found so many things that I wanted to decorate--but alas, only brought home a gift for Julie--we have two birthday in the next two weeks.  Anyway--we can still have fun and not spend too much money.

Back to School

After spending the summer packing, moving, packing some more, staging the house, and moving some more its that wonderful time that all parents look forward to--back to school.  I'm neither excited nor depressed about the new school year.  As of today, I don't really know what I'll be teaching (other than Journalism and Theater) and I'm just blah on the new year.  Hopefully once I get back into the swing of things I will find some enthusiasm!  Jeff and I just rented our house and the tenants want to move in September 1.  That means all the lovely staging I did for the house needs to be packed up and moved again.  But alas, I think Jeff will have to be the moving company.  The weekend began early this morning. Jeff shared some of his devotional about being an egg--something about either hatch or go bad.  I wasn't listening very well.  There is rain coming down outside--All of the dogs are laying around sleeping and I'm not sure what is in store for today.  What I do know, school starts back on Monday and for the first time in a while--I really don't mind.

Resolutions Part 2

Well, today was teacher workday.  I was looking forward, as much forward as I can, because our school was going to hire another teacher and split the number of students, but alas it doesn't look like is going to be the case.  Those blue doors hitting my backside is looking really good.

Anyway while getting a pedicure today, that was wonderful, I thought about the things I listed that I'm going to try to accomplish.  I completely forgot about doing some more personal Bible study.  Julie and I purchased some books after Christmas to try and get our personal spiritual life back on tract.  So I'm going to try and learn more.  I would like to memorize scripture like many of my friends are doing, but this old brain doesn't hardly remember what day it is, so I'm going to make sure to put in a little more "WORD" reading.

I walked three different dogs today--each one is really different.  Lily weighs 80 pounds and still wants to pull and tug.  I tried a choke chain today, worked a little better.  McKay is like a mush dog.  He is on a mission to see exactly how far and how much he can find.  Henry is scared of the leash, other dogs, and basically his shadow.  But each allowed me to get in some exercise.  Came home did the dishes, made some soup, and vacuumed the floors.  Day one was successful.

Resolutions...

I finally got back on my blog.  I forgot the log-in, the password--everything.  So today while sitting watching a tear-jerker Hallmark movie, I'm making a list of things, resolutions, if you will that I want to accomplish.  I'm hoping if I write it down, put it out there for others to see and maybe, just maybe I'll mark some of those things off my list.  So I'm putting this in writing and hoping I'll get some things done this year.

1.  I need to be healthy.  I've put off going to the dentist and doctor since moving to Del Rio.  I have justified lots of reason to not go, but I would like to be here when I get some of those grandchildren--or at least just for my husband and family.
2.  I'm going to clean out my clutter.  I've already started on this--can you believe I have already packed up two truckloads of stuff and carried it off to Goodwill.  I refuse to keep collecting stuff I don't need.  The problem--I still love stuff.  I love dishes, guess I got that from mom.  But I watch enough HGTV to know that if bring something into the house, two things have to go.  I will get that done this year.
3.  Everyday I'm going to do something physical.  Helping Julie move last week showed me just how out of shape I have gotten.  Little too lazy, but I'm trying.

Teaching is Not for Sissys

Today was one of the worst days I have ever experienced as a teacher.  I don't know if it happened because I'm teaching a subject that maybe I'm not fully qualified for, if its because I'm 50 and life is starting to change, or just that it was "one of those days."  I had to walk out of my classroom at least three or four times today--I didn't want to let teenagers know they were getting to me--but they did.

It's on days like this I miss my mom.  She wasn't a sissy.  Those kids wouldn't have made her cry.  Too bad I didn't inherit some of that "Younda" spirit.  I managed to get home before completely losing all control.  I think Jeff and I saw a movie back in the 80s called "Take This Job and Shove It."  I wanted to do that today.  Walk out the door and not let the door hit me in the backside.  Do I do this job just to collect a paycheck?  Do I do this job because in Del Rio this is nothing else for a non-Spanish speaker to do?  Do I really love kids?  Do I want to continue to work to help my "growing" up family be able to pursue their dreams?  The answer to all is yes, but I am still dreading going back tomorrow.

A pep talk might help--I've been giving myself one since 3:30.  Just about five kids are making my life at school miserable.  But its time again to put on my "Big Girl Panties" and go to work!  Pray for me.

On Being a Preacher's Wife

After being married to Jeff for almost 28 years and of those almost 28 years the same number have been as a minister's wife, I have come to the conclusion that God certainly knew what he was doing putting us together.  I can only count the number of times I have heard "you are not like most minister's wives."  I never quite know how to respond--is that a good thing or a bad thing??  I started going to church when I was about eight years old but didn't really ever know a "pastor's wife" until I met Linda Rymer at First Baptist Church Whitewright.  She was a teacher, mom, and seemed to have tons of fun.  I digress here because I didn't think about trying to be like her, just that she was the first minister's wife I knew.  There were other pastor's wives throughout my junior high and high school years but I never thought I would ever be in shoes such as theirs.  Some where quiet, some where "strange", some I never really got to know, but it seemed as if there were several things they had in common.  They were all working moms--most teachers, and a few could play the piano (I think that was a requirement back in the day).

I knew when I left for A&M that there were two types of men I would never marry--ministers and superintendent of schools.  No way, no how.  It's funny how God laughs at our decisions.  I met Jeff, he was going to be a lawyer, and then after falling in love with the guy who was going to make lots of money being a lawyer, God decides that Jeff is called to the ministry.  Whoa--not going to happen.  I can still remember the phone call--he was in St. Louis serving as a summer missionary--this was interrupting my plans.  Ministry wives were a little dull, really godly, and went to church ALL THE TIME!  Don't get me wrong, I liked church, I loved God, and wanted to serve.  Only I didn't want to HAVE to do those things.  I wanted my way.  Gee do I sound like Lori?

So today I'm sitting in church listening to Jeff preach.  I played the piano today--not very proficient I might add--these reading glasses and little black notes don't always read the same way.  I deter from what I was thinking.  God knew more about my plans.  He didn't ask me to be a minister's wife.  I didn't have to fit a mold.  I just needed to be me. Jeff told a story about an argument we had about cleaning the garage.  It was funny and appropriate and if anybody learned that we face the same kinds of bumps in the road that's good!  Okay God knew putting the two of us together was the right thing.  We haven't changed.  We're not too godly--actually still working on trying every day to be who God asked us to be. Still go to church because I want too and haven't ever tried to be anybody that I'm not.  I'm loud, I love to dance, sing, and clap my hands in church, and all the while being a child of the living God.