here, there and everywhere

Ahhhh Christmas Break! I have six more days until I go back to work, and I am enjoying every minute of it.

As soon as I got out of school last Tuesday, I jumped in the car and headed to my hometown. Clint stayed back to work while I spent about three days with my family, mainly my sister Danielle. We had a great time of hanging out, shopping, eating and chilling! It went so so fast!

Christmas Eve, I drove to Tifton to meet Clint and his Family for the Christmas Eve Service at his home church. It was lovely. Apparently pregnancy hormones make you more emotional than normal, but I did my fair share of crying through the service. The Christmas story just gets me everytime, but more so this year.

Christmas morning we woke up, opened a gift, waited for Clint's brother and family to come, ate breakfast and opened the rest of our gifts. This was Christmas #1 for us and already I was spoiled! The rest of the day was spent watching Clint play pool with his dad/brother and watching our nine year old nephew play video games all day long. We had a yummy lunch and played some card games. We decided to hit up the Waffle House for supper that evening, but since it was the ONLY open resturant on Christmas day, it was PACKED out. We ended up coming home and having left overs that were quite yummy. We ended the evening with a fun round of games. It was a super day.

Saturday Clint and I went back to Tville to drop off stuff, laundry, repack and have our Christmas together. We also had to teach Children's Church on Sunday. For our Christmas #2 I was once again spoiled! He did so well! Awwww, I love him.

We are now in Warner Robins hanging out with the family until Friday. Christmas #3 and #4 were awesome too! A visit to WR is NEVER without Drama, NEVER! I love love love my family, BUT! (nuff said)

Monday, my mom, Grandma and I drove up to Macon to check out some sales at the maternity store. I have to admit, it was quite fun. Those clothes are NOT CHEAP, but necessary. Thankfully I was given a NICE amount of money to get them with! I ended up with 3 pairs of dress pants, 2 shirts and 2 necessary items for about $170. I know that seems like a lot, but those were sale items! In the dressing room they had a "bump" to put under your shirt to see where you will be three months from where you currently are....SO FUN! I SO looked pregnant! It was crazy!

Yesterday we chilled in our PJ's until about 4pm. It was so nice! I watched a movie with mom, took a nap and played a few games. We then got ready and went to Grandma's for soup. Only one time was there drama, which was strange. I always expect more. Did you know that MY baby is also my grandma's baby! Seriously! :]

At this point I am relaxing on the couch waiting for 6:00 to roll around so we can meet up for dinner with our good friends Mike and Lisa! So fun!

Tomorrow is our Christmas celebration with my step dads side of the family. I am pretty excited about it since we will actually have something to do on new years eve.

I believe that is all for now. Next time I post will probably be after our next doctor's appointment on Tuesday! woohoo! Praying that all goes well!

Until next time,
Sam

Do you hear what I hear?

Don't ask my why I used that title, I just love that song and it was stuck in my head!

Things are rolling right along here. I have 4 more days of school until the much anticipated Christmas Break. It couldn't come soon enough! I leave next Tuesday to spend 2 days with my sister Danielle. Due to Clint's crazy work schedule, things are a little hectic with the whens and wheres of Christmas...but it doesn't matter. As long as we are with family, I'm good.

We have officially finished all of our Christmas shopping! I have two family presents left to wrap and ALLLLL of Clint's presents left to wrap! YIKES!

Friday is a half day for us, so I should be home around 1:30ish. Clint is off too, so we decided to invite his parents over for dinner. This will be the first time I will cook for them since I have known them. Anytime the come to T'ville, we always go out to eat. But this visit is for the sole purpose of seeing our new apartment, our decorations for Christmas, our new recliner and our new china cabinet! I am excited to have them come, just praying that I am feeling well and able to entertain!

Last Friday, I noticed a lump on Clint's neck. Kind of near his adamsapple (I have no idea if that is how you spell it, but you get my drift). He hadn't noticed it before and neither had I. Since we didn't know how long it had been there, I immediately insisted that he go to the doctor on Monday. He was able to get an appointment for 3:15. I tried not to think about it, but many-a-thoughts were in my mind all day. I finally heard from him about 4:30. The doctor said it was a swollen lymph node (it looked like a pea sticking out of his neck). The did some blood work that all came back fine...his blood counts were good..that ruled out a BUNCH of scary stuff. He is on antibiotics for 10 days and has to go back to be checked. If it isn't gone by day 10 then he will be sent to a ENT doctor. For now I am relieved, just pray that it goes away!

Clint has been off this whole week. He has several vacation days to use up before the end of 2009. It has been so nice coming home to him every day. He did stop by work yesterday afternoon to drop off some pampered chef orders for me (I will NEVER have another book party...can we say hassle!). When he got back from visiting work, he asked if I wanted the good news or the bad news first. I hate that question! I always say bad news first! Anyway, on top of the 5 days of furlough he has to take from January to March, he has to take ONE more before Christmas Eve. (this place is rediculous...I just think someone is getting rich) The good news is that he gets Saturday off! That will be THREE Saturdays in a row off for us! That is GOOD news and worth the furlough if you ask me! By the time march rolls around he will have had 16 days of furlough! Crazy! The first time he got furloughed (how many times can I use the word furloughed?) I went into a straight panic! Since then, I just shrug my shoulders and give it to God. Seriously. It's His money anyway! He has taken care of us our whole lives, why would he stop now? All will be fine! Amen?!?!

I don't know if it is the pregnancy or just my lack of coordination, but I somehow managed to drop my cell phone straigt into a cup of water, while driving! Talent! Anyway, after a day of my phone doing really crazy things, it is somewhat back to normal. Thankfully, this happened on Monday and today (Wednesday) my 2 year contract is up which means I am eligible for a free phone. I had planned on taking advantage of that today anyway...so perfect timing.

I am still feeling blah, but I am making it. It helps seeing the light at the end of the school tunnell, for two weeks anyway. I have had some pretty disgusting complications that are pregnancy related and causing a lot of discomfort and pain. (I am trying to spare you from some pretty gross details.) As far as we know all is well with baby, but it is just part of it as they say. We go back to the doctor January 5th and I can't wait...I'm not even scared...I just can't wait.

Long post I know, but one more thing....

We have chosen our baby names. It was a fairly easy process and we LOVE the names we have chosen. We haven't told a lot of people...and now I know why. Never in my life would I have thought I would have to defend the names we have chosen to people I love. People that have no quams about stating their oh so bold and negative opinion. I cannot imagine myself telling anyone, not even a stranger, that I didn't like the name they had chosen. (okay, this one time, I talked about this girls choice of baby name behind her back, but not to her face) The worst part is that one of them is my Grandpa (whom I love dearly) and the other is my MOTHER! Before you form an evil opinion of my mom, that is just how she is, she is coming around and has even said it is starting to grow on her. (The names really aren't bad!) The even worse part is that my mom's solution for our girls name is to name her after the Twilight books...Bella. MOTHER!!! (no offense to anyone named Bella!)
I laugh about it now, but at the time, there was no laughter...just shock!

Alrighty, must run!

Until next time,
Sam

A Shout Out

I have been contemplating where to go with my next post. And for now, the only thing I can think about is my amazing husband.

It has almost been an entire month since we found out we are having a baby. In that month, I have seen an entirely different side of Clint. I have always known he is kind, compassionate, loving, caring and all of the wonderful things he is (all of the reasons I married him in the first place). Anyway, I have seen all of those things this past month, but in a magnified way.

As I have said in the last posts, I am sick. I am sick of being sick, but I am sick.

Without fail, Clint asks me every morning, every afternoon and every evening how I am feeling. He hasn't complained one time that he hasn't had a good meal in almost a month (with the exception of Thanksgiving). He has done the laundry 3 weeks in a row now. He has cleaned the kitchen more times than I can count in the last month. Everytime a new Christmas gift comes in, he wraps it. He put up our Christmas tree INCLUDING the lights (which is so not a one person job) all by himself, as I laid on the couch kindly directing things. He has yet to complain that I haven't put my shoes away...all month. I just get up, and they are away. When I ran out of dark blue powerade (the only kind I can stomach), he bought me more, without even asking or telling...I just came home and there they were. When I changed plans on him for the weekend due to not feeling well...he didn't mind...he got it! He gets me!

I could go on and on and on about how thankful I am to have this amazing man as my husband. I couldn't think of a better person to go through the ups and downs of this roller coaster called life and pregnancy! He is my love and my best friend!(yes Karen, you are too...the best friend part)

Awwww I am so in love.

I can't wait to be a mommy with him being my baby daddy!

Until next time,
Sam

well....do it?

Weird title I know, but you'll get my point soon! And by the way, this has nothing to do about being pregnant or having a baby...next time, I promise!

For the past month and a half my 6th graders have been diligently working on their Science Fair Projects. Well, most of them have been diligent about it, however, as of today, I know that it is definatly not all of them!

They had several topics to choose from, the normal 6th grade things: Moldy bread, plant growth, laundry detergent, audio/visual learning. Today was the first day of presentations, so I was bracing myself all morning. I teach 3 different sections of 6th grade Science a day, so today I got to sit through 20 different presentations.

For the most part everyone did very well. They were extremely nervous and apprehensive about standing in front of their classmates and presenting their project. I continued to reassure them that it is good for them!

During my last class, one of my lovely 6th grade boys gets up, opens his tri-fold board and I saw the title. It was ALL I could do not to Laugh. I did get a little chuckle coming, but I did my best to mask it with a cough.

My student's name is D'Shade and the title of his project dealing with laundry detergent was.......

Do It Clean?

Well.....do it? According to him, Gain with bleach is the best detergent out their!

Hope this made you laugh!

Until next time,
Sam

Doctor's Visit

One week ago from tomorrow was our very first doctor's visit! I set up the appointment the day after we found out due to me being a new patient. As the days passed leading up to December 1st, my excitement abounded! I was INCREDIBLY sick. I have never been so sick in my life! Needless to say, I was so ready to see a doctor and get something to help out with being so sick.

Clint drove from Thomasville and picked me up at school right as I dropped my students off for P.E. class. I jumped in the jeep and almost lost it! I couldn't quite figure out how I was going to survive a doctor's appointment without hurling all over the place. I think the nerves were messing with me too!

After driving around the hospital parking garage forever searching for a parking place, we finally got one. In we went and sat for just a few minutes while I filled out paperwork...lots of paperwork! The wait wasn't bad and I was very impressed with all of the nurses and midwives that I got to meet.

First, I had to pee in a cup. I guess they send it off and test it for lots of things. Then we went into this little room where we answered thousands more questions. The subject of the flu shot was brought up, where I politely declined both of them and asked the nurse not to tell my mom! :) (My mom would be very disappointed, however the nurse didn't say it was that necessary) At this point, the nurse lady told me to roll up my sleeves! YIKES! (If you know me, you know my tolerance of pain is very minimal) So, one needle and 8 vials of blood later, I survived. It really wasn't that bad, I just closed my eyes, grabbed Clint's hand and kept breathing!

After the blood room, we went to an exam room. At this point, all I wanted someone to do was say "Yes, Mrs. Thompson, there IS a baby in there!" I was still seeking reassurance. That didn't come for a while though. I made it through the entire exam, inside and out, pushing and prodding and spoke with my midwife for a bit. She went on a rattled off an entirely memorized shpeel about morning sickness. I wanted to interject and say "look, nice lady, I have tried ALL of that and NONE of that helps," but I refrained. She kindly told me that since I am 11 weeks pregnant, if it doesn't clear up in a week or so, to call her back and request a perscription to be called in.

Off we went to the sonogram room. Here is where I began to feel like a little girl. I just KNEW I survived the "not so pleasant" part of an OB visit. I buttoned my pants and just KNEW that part was over. I had visions of them squirting the gel on my belly and rubbing around for baby. Boy was I wrong. Apparently, when the baby is the size of a pea, you can't do that! See what I mean about being a little girl. So, I took care of business and listened intently as the sonogram technician explained exactly what was about to happen. As she did her job, my eyes were glued to the screen. I was so nervous and excited all at the same time. There it was...so little...and so perfect...with its little heart just a beating. 150 bpm to be exact, I was so proud. I cried! (not surprising to most of you, I know) What an amazing experience. As she performed measurement after measurement, she kept saying everything looked good and was just the right size. She then told me, that I was most definately NOT 11 weeks, but a mere 7 1/2. My first thought was of the sickness and the fact that I thought for sure it was almost over. Bummer. But, we are so fine with it all. She picked a new due date for us, July 17, 2010. Sounds like a good day to me!

On our way out, the midwife with the drug power informed me that she just called in a perscription for me! WooHoo!

As of now, I am feeling pretty good. I make sure to take that medicine every single time 6 hours passes...without fail! Other than being abnormally exhausted...all is well! I am able to cook a little, eat a little and look alive while teaching!

Our next appointment is January 5th! I can't wait to see our baby on that screen again! I am so in love!

Until next time,
Sam

Telling our families!

I am by far the worst secret keeper there is! You have to tell me ahead of time…in a serious tone…not to tell a soul! I will get it then. This secret was by far the hardest secret that I have ever had to keep!

I didn’t HAVE to, but we wanted to be able to tell our families in person! So, we found out Tuesday the 17th and got to tell on Wednesday the 25th. One whole week and a day!

The first people we told were Clint’s parents. We bought them a bouquet of flowers for Thanksgiving and signed a cute little card from Clint, Sam and baby Thompson. My mother-in-law opened the card, read it, and slowly looked up at us saying “Are you serious?” in a loud high-pitched voice! They were thrilled!

We then told my grandparents, my mom and step dad, my sister, and my dad and step mom. We got it all on video which I am going to do my best to upload to this page! Their reactions were priceless and I am SO glad we waited! I am also SO glad we were able to get it on video! So fun!

**Can't figure out the video thing...so here is the link for those of you who haven't seen it...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-2pXw0eDHk

Until next time, Sam

A post of all posts...I'm serious!

I am writing this on November 18, 2009. I have no idea when I will actually post this for all the world to see. I absolutely do not want to forget any of what I am feeling at this moment in time.

I am pregnant!

About 8 weeks pregnant!

We found out last night!

This is our story of what led us to today.

My last cycle was supposed to start on Monday, October 19th. It didn’t come. My immediate thought went to the fact that Clint and I had started working out at the YMCA 5 days a week. I had always heard that when you become active after not being an active person, it can throw your whole body out of whack. That is where my thoughts were for the last 29 days. I did take a test on October 22nd….3 to be exact…and they all came back negative. So I chalked it up to the whole active thing.

As the days passed from October 19th to November 17th, I didn’t think much about it. Every once in a while, thoughts would creep in my head about my cycles being all messed up now and not being able to know when I would ovulate again. I never really thought I could be pregnant.

Until…

My boobs hurt SO incredibly bad. And I was SO SO tired! For about a week the thoughts of “maybe this could be it” crept in my head, then I would push them aside not wanting to get my hopes up. I even said something to Clint this past Monday night and he even pushed it aside.

Tuesday morning, November 17th, my coffee pot DIED! So that afternoon, I knew I had to make a stop to replace it, because you know I need my coffee. As I pulled into Target, I thought…”I should get a test.” I got my coffee pot and my pack of two tests and I was off for home. On my way I got to talk to my friend Holly and catch up on the newest news of her adoption journey. Once I arrived home, I stayed in my car to finish my conversation, said my goodbyes and up the stairs I went.

After doing my business in the bathroom, I put the stick on the counter vowing to return only AFTER the 3 minutes had passed. I went to the computer room to check my facebook, allowing the time to slip away from me. When I went to check the stick I was a little confused because this time, I saw TWO pink lines. I read and re-read the directions over and over and over again to make sure I understood what I was seeing. I immediately unwrapped the second test and let it work its magic. Sure enough 2 pink lines.

Pause here: Before this moment, Clint and I discussed that we would each choose ONE person, not family, to tell right away, everyone else would have to wait until we had the all clear.

Resume: After the second test, I grabbed my phone and called my best friend and Matron of Honor, Karen. She picked up the phone, said hello to which I replied “I’m Pregnant!” SILENCE on the other end, which if you know Karen, is SO not normal. Then….she SCREAMED! The rest was a bunch of excitement and recounting the events of the prior month. It was during this conversation that I revealed that 2 tests weren’t enough to convince me and that I wanted to take 2 more! She said for me to go for it!

As soon as we hung up, I was off. I went straight to CVS, driving a little more carefully at this point and made my purchase. Somehow I had enough brains about me to know that I would now need decaff coffee, so I bought that too.

When I got home, I took those two tests. These were the type that actually said the words pregnant or not pregnant. Both of them said pregnant! Yay!

My plans of working out for the evening were long gone! I now had an hour and a half to wait for Clint to get home, and an hour and a half to figure out how to tell him our good news. I knew if I gave him a random gift, he would know something was up. I knew if I gave him a card, he would know something was up. So, I had a new plan, thanks to my BFF Karen.

I took several pictures of the positive tests until I found one that was as clear as possible. I then transferred the picture to our computer and put it as the desktop background. My plan was to get Clint to come into the computer room to show him something and with the wiggle of the mouse, have it all unfold before his very eyes.

The plan worked! He came home and I tried to be as normal as possible. I felt TOTALLY abnormal and felt like I was forcing my words and actions. He had no idea anything was up. I told him to go to the computer room because I wanted to show him something. He wiggled the mouse as my heart beat a million miles a minute and there it was! He said “What?!!? Are you Serious? How did you do that? For real?” It was great! We embraced and the rest is history!

My next post will involve how we tell our families and especially my sister who is flying home from Colorado on Thanksgiving day and Clint and I are scheduled to pick her up! SO FUN!

Diseases

So here is a short, funny one for ya!

Today we finished up Chapter 13 which has been all about DNA and Heredity. The kids have really gotten into it and enjoyed learning about these subjects.

We finished up by talking about 3 different diseases that are hereditary. Down Syndrome, Sickle Cell Anemia and Cystic Fibrosis. We talked about them in detail and I made the students wait until the very end of the lesson to ask any questions.

Finally the end came and a boy asked “what is the disease that causes you not to be able to play sports?”

One of my more….uh….”nerdy” (I know that’s not nice, but I need you to picture him) boys spoke out (without permission of course) and said “Athlete’s Foot!!” We all got a good laugh out of that one!

2 more classes left today then I am going home to crash! OH so tired! 3 more teaching days until Thanksgiving Break! WOOHOO!

Until next time,
Sam

Panic

This past Sunday, Clint and I didn't have to work in Children's Church so we were upstairs taking part in the Sunday morning church service. As soon as the Pastor went to the invitation time, I slipped out to make my way downstairs to the kiddos. We were trying a new dismissal pattern from children's church, so I wanted to assist the teachers and kids as best I could.

When I arrived downstairs, the 4Kers-1st graders were busily finishing up their craft. The 2-5th grade boys were in the lesson room and the 2-5th grade girls were finishing up snack. I was chatting with one of the teachers in the snack room when another teacher came in. He said to his wife "Lori, I can't find Trent and Jacob. Help me find them."

I didn't start to panic right then. I thought for sure they would be in the bathroom. After a quick check of the bathroom with no luck, my heart started to race. We looked everywhere we could in a span of about 1 minute and a half. I was VERY close to running upstairs to get their parents to inform them that we lost their children, when I heard someone say "we found them!" I felt immediate relief, then immediate frustration when I found out their were hiding! They had snuck down the hallway into an empty classroom and stood their with the purpose of hiding from their friends. Both boys are in 4th grade. They saw me come into the lesson room, and KNEW it was not going to be a good conversation we were about to have!

I informed them that church was not the place to be silly like that. I gave them the do's and dont's and let them know I would be telling their parents. I also told them that my heart was about to beat out of my chest and that they had 5 adults searching for them. They were shocked.

At the end of children's church, I had to tell their parents. Both sets were very understanding and very much shocked at their behavior. The most awkward part came when I had to tell the parents of the second boy...his dad is my BIG boss at school, the principal. WOW!

All is well now, but boy was I scared! I checked my school mail box today and got a letter from one of the boys that said this:

"Dear Mrs. Thompson, I'm sorry for hiding during church. It was wrong. It won't happen again. Thank you for taking care of us in children's church. I love Children's Church. From Trent.
P.S. If you want to write a note back, put it in my mom's box."

What a cutie! I am even more impressed with the fact that his parents made him write me a note. SO not the norm these days!

Until next time,
Sam

The Visit

I posted last time about my grandparents coming to visit during one of the busiest weeks of the school year. They came, we survived, and I am left to pick up the pieces!

Wednesday was Veterans Day, so thankfully, I had the day off. My grandparents arrived about 1:00 in the afternoon, just in time for a yummy lunch of home made mini burgers, chips and a veggie tray! It was delish! Clint headed off to work and my grandparents and I made our way to an Amish bakery (YUM), a goat farm and big lots. We had a good time of being tourists.

Thursday, I was off to work while leaving them home with Clint for the day. They were to meet me at school about 3:00 for the Harvest Festival. I got a text from Clint that said “Just finished hour two of antique shops…HELP” Bless his heart! He won the husband of the year award just for that experience!

They met me at 3:00 and we enjoyed the evening of Harvest Fest although I found myself running from one booth to another and making sure that they were taken care of. It was a stressful evening, but fun at the same time. We did not get home until about 11:00 and I was asleep by 11:30. Crazy!

Friday I had to teach a full day of classes, which, in my opinion (that no one cares about) we should have the Harvest Fest on Friday since the kids were out of it on Thursday and Friday. But what do I know?!?!? Friday was one crazy crazy day! I couldn’t wait to come home and do nothing…nothing with company that is. As soon as I entered the door, my grandparents were sitting at the table playing a card game. They had gone earlier in the day and picked up my new china cabinet, which they gave us as an early Christmas gift. I was thrilled to see it and I absolutely love it! But on to my story… I hadn’t even sat down before my grandma pulled out a note of things to remind me of. She went on to inform me that the sponge that I use to wash dishes with is full of germs and that it needs to be thrown away and she will be making me some dish rags to use. She also let me know that my electric can opener is germ infested and needs to be thrown away as well. Oh, and Sami, one more thing, NEVER put cucumbers in plastic bags in your fridge! SHEESH!!! I was trying to keep my cool, but a good vent on Facebook was what got me through. I know she means well, but I wanted to say, IT”S MY HOUSE and I AM A BIG GIRL! I have NEVER met anyone like her! We ended the evening watching Baby Mama…very funny!

Saturday we woke up super early to head to a 400 booth craft fair in Moultrie about 30 minutes away. We got off just in time and met my awesome mother-in-law there! She is such a good sport! We did have a good time with the exception of my grandma talking to everyone she crossed paths with and telling story after story after story and stopping to do so, even if there were 300 people waiting to get passed us!

Sunday we awoke and went about our business and got ready for church. We hugged them goodbye and off we went! I had a BIG meeting to run after church and I was a nervous wreck! The meeting went well, but by the time it was over, I was exhausted. We got home, took a long nap, got up to eat and went back to bed!

It is now Monday afternoon and I am overwhelmed by the amount of work I have left to do! Grade papers that didn’t get graded. Laundry that didn’t get washed. Grocery shopping so we don’t starve and a little bit of nice, neat orderliness back to my quiet little life.

We had a good time, but you know what they say, “all good things must come to an end!”

From the stress of it all, I am now getting sick and have acquired two cold sores on my top lip! BOO!

Oh yeah, and I just found out I am getting a new student tomorrow! HELP!

Until next time,
Sam

Scarce

So I’ve been told that I have been scarce around the blog world lately….so true…but not on purpose. I had an entire post that I typed as a Word document, and for some reason, closed out of it and clicked NO when it asked me to save it. Grrrrr! I was so mad at myself!

Things are going well for us. Staying busy, busy, busy which is somewhat normal for us this time of year! My second job is picking up steam and it seems I find myself in lots more meetings and responding to lots more emails. I still like it, but at times it feels like a full time job!

Home life is good. We are mostly settled into our new apartment. I am ready to raise Cain with the apartment people due to the NON-working stove, OLD dishwasher and TERRIBLE water faucets. I have been nice….but my patience is being tested and they are about to see another side of me. We are paying big bucks to live there…if they don’t fix the things we want fixed…we can move somewhere else…plain and simple!

My grandparents are coming to visit us next week. They will arrive Wednesday afternoon (I am off that day) and will leave Sunday morning when we leave for church. I am glad to have them, but this particular week just happens to be THE busiest week for us for the rest of 2009. Hopefully I can get it all done! Help me Jesus!

School is okay. I am still loving the 6th graders, but there are times that I just want to run back to my “babies” and hear “I love you Mrs. Thompson” one more time. There isn’t much of that with the big kids. The big kids still do funny things though!

For example:

L: Mrs. T, if I ask you to go to the bathroom later, I really gotta go
Me: Why?
L: ‘cause me and my momma are doin a watermelon flush; all I am eatin is watermelon

Sure enough that is all she had at lunch…a big tub of watermelon. Oh and of course about 10 pieces of Halloween candy. When I asked her about the candy, she said, “if I don’t eat it, then it will go stale…we can’t have that now!” A hoot!

My sister Danielle, the one in Denver, wasn’t planning to come home until Christmas. Since she works at a Homeless rescue mission, Thanksgiving is a huge time for them. Well, we got a call Monday that she managed to get Thanksgiving day off. So she flies into Atlanta at 6 am Thanksgiving morning and flies out SUPER early on Friday. We are SO EXCITED to get to see her, but are praying that the weather does well so she can actually make those flights. Makes me nervous.

I went home this past week. I had a marvelous time visiting with all my family! Somehow I managed to spend time with Mom and Larry, Dad and Cindy, Katy and Mark, Grandma and Grandpa, Mike, Megan and Allison and my BFF Karen all in a 2 day time span. No wonder I am so tired!

I learned some things while home that I have always known, but never wanted to admit. I can’t really go into detail since some of my family reads this. It is not a huge deal or anything, but definitely stuff that weighs on my heart and mind. I am praying that God will take care of it…I know He can.

I have a meeting tonight with some Children’s ministry workers. I am prepared, yet nervous. You never know what people are going to say or issues they will bring up. Somehow I ended up being the person that has to get our dinner from point A to point B and set up the room all nice and neat. Let’s hope that goes well. I just have to tell myself that in 5 hours it will be over and I will be on my way home to bed!

We are having a HUGE HUGE HUGE Harvest Festival next Thursday. It is a huge event that involves the WHOLE school and is our BIG money raising event of the year. Not only am I in charge of the Soda Bottle ring toss booth, but also am in charge of setting up a booth to advertise our Children’s Ministry. However, until yesterday, I forgot about that second part. So I am SCRAMBLING to pull it together! I ordered some cards to lay out and give away, I have plenty of candy and left over trinkets from VBS….all I really have to do is make a backboard with pictures and times of our events. I am not the most creative person you will meet, but I am gonna do my best!

Speaking of best…must finish lesson plans! I will do my best to keep this thing updated a little more often…promise!

Love to you all!
Until next time,
Sam

I WON!!!!

For the first time in my year and a half of blogging...I have won a blog award! Thank you BB from Miraculously My Own for choosing me to win this award.

Here are the rules:
1-Thank the person who nominated you for this award.
2-Copy the logo and place it on your blog.
3-Link to the person who nominated you for this award.
4-Name 7 things about yourself that people may not know.
5-Nominate 7 Kreativ Bloggers.
6-Post links to the 7 blogs you nominate.
7-Leave a comment on each of the blogs letting them know they’ve been nominated.

For my 7 things:

1- I watch entirely too much television on Thursday evenings...so sue me! Survivor, Grey's Anatomy, The Office and The Real Hosewives of Atlanta!
2- Most of you know this, but I will cry at the drop of a hat. Good news, bad news, public or private, I am a cryer...and proud of it!
3- When Clint and I go to bed at night, he sings me silly songs...he is not a great singer, but I love it!
4- When my sister Dani and I were little, we had a nightly saying: "Night Dani" "Night Sami" "Love you" "Love you too" "See you in the Morning" "k". That was it...nothing deep, we said it just like that...every night. I miss it!
5- One would think, by looking at the blogs that I read, that I am in the process of adoption. I am not, but the process is amazing to me and I have a new outlook on life after venturing in to the adoption blog world.
6- When I cook, I pretend I am on the food network, with my own show...yes I even talk...:)
7- My sister Dani and I have an unspoken tradition, that when we are at a concert...separately...we call each other to let the other person hear. I secretly think it is just to make the other jealous...it's fun!

Now Announcing my picks for creative blogs:

H at Confessions of a Waiting Mommy (Newly chosen Adoptive Mommy!)

Danielle at Sure Looks Bright (Stories of a Homeless Rescue Mission worker)

Elizabeth at My Ramblings (Sister far away in Germany)

Sarah at Life Sweet Life (New blog friend on the adoption journey who just found out she is pregnant)


Well this was fun! Thanks again!

Until next time,
Sam

Mama Don't Play

Since I teach Science and History, a huge part of learning these subjects is review, review, review. We have a Science test Friday so in one of my crazier moments I decided we would play “Trash Can Basketball” during my three classes of Science. I have played this game every year that I have taught (yes, even during preschool). The students LOVE it. Some LOVE it a little too much. They take this game very seriously and get very worked up when things are working for them or working against them. The students tend to get a little rambunctious and things sometimes get a little noisy. Today was no exception.

It was fourth period. I had explained the rules for the 10th time. The students know that they only get three fouls. Three fouls and game over. Fouls are given for the rowdiness of it all. This fourth period class is CHALK FULL of…boys. Loud, boisterous boys. I love them, but it doesn’t work in my favor when trying to control a class review game.

Anyway, at one point in the game, they were about to receive their 3rd foul. As I turned to grab the marker to put it on the board, one young man we’ll call “D” decided to yell out to the class “Shut the Freak Up!” It worked alright. Everyone got silent, dropped their mouths, then started mumbling under their breath. I was not really shocked, it was only a matter of time. I sent him to the hallway.

I spoke to him of the seriousness of the matter. I asked him if when he heard people talking like that, was his first though “Wow..they must really love Jesus.” To which he responded, No. I went on to say how only he can control HIS reactions and I will control the class. He knows that if he does this again….referral…detention….not good.

I also took the liberty of emailing his mom! Within 3 minutes I had a reply with an apology, 4 phone numbers of where she can be reached and an invitation to inform her of ANY further trouble and the promise that she would take care of it tonight.

I smiled! I LOVE having parents on my side (sadly, they are fewer and fewer these days)

I thought that was it. I was pleased.

Until.

During Study Hall about an hour later, “D” gets called to the office. I send him. About 2 minutes later, there he is, WITH his mother, standing in the hallway apologizing to me. She took time out of her day to come let him know that “Mama Don’t Play!”

Thank you Mama!

Until next time,
Sam

One phone call can bring us to our knees

Saturday for me was just like any ole Saturday. I slept in, watched an episode of Real Housewives of Atlanta (guilty pleasure...don't ask me why) and waited for my man to wake up.

We went on our merry way to the YMCA for a tour, stopped by the farmers market for some fresh veggies (don't know why I just NOW discovered this place...amazing!), and went to the shoe store for a new pair of kicks. We came home, ate lunch and worked on the wireless internet for about an hour. Finally got that to work, watched the Georgia Bulldogs get their butts kicked and sent my hubby off to work.

Laundry, grocery shopping, cleaning and organizing, cooking supper, jamming out to music and just enjoying the day.

Clint and I sat down to a hearty meal of baked spaghetti and breadsticks..yum. We popped in an episode from Season 5 of the Office and were laughing along.

When.

It.

Happened.

My phone rang. It was one of my closest friends, Holly.

I ran to the guest room so I could pay full attention to the conversation at hand. I hadn't talked to her on the phone in quite a while. I knew she was just getting back from the Beth Moore Conference, so I was all excited to hear how that was. I seemed to be the one doing all the question asking when finally I could tell she was ready to get to the point. She starts telling me how things on their plan weren't going their way...I started getting angry, even punching my pillow. I was mad.

I finish listening to her, and I hear these words: "We are having a baby in January"

To this I stupidly reply: "You're Pregnant?!!?!" To which Holly says "Yeah, Samantha, I am 6th months Pregnant and no one knows"

Oops....WE'RE MATCHED!!!!!

My friend is having a baby! A baby boy. I am THRILLED for them...THRILLED!

When she and I got off the phone, I couldn't help but cry...I mean CRY! I cried out to my Savior...the one I have been praying to for the past 15 months, and he heard me. He heard me! For the past 15 months I have talked to him on a daily basis about my friend Holly. My husband and I have prayed for them together. And now, all I could do was Praise Him.

I am so thankful.

After my cry fest I made a few phone calls...my bff Karen, who is also friends with Holly (Karen's reaction is a whole new post in itself), My sister Danielle, My mom, Amber, Betty and I texted my Teacher's aid from last year as well as my sister in law. All of these women rejoiced with me!

I can honestly say, this experience is unlike anything I have ever experienced in my life...and I am a better person for it for sure!

At this point, I will continue my prayers. I will pray for this sweet baby boy who is one of the lukiest little guys I will ever know. I will pray for this amazing woman who is giving her child an amazing life. I will pray that the paperwork goes the way it should. I will pray for Holly and Donnie, their siblings and their parents. Most of all, I will pray that the Lord's will be done.

Thank you Jesus...Thank you!

Until next time,
Sam

Life is Good!

Life is good.

Things in the Thompson household are rolling right along. It is hard for me to believe that it is actually October…the 8th of October at that. We are quickly approaching my most favorite time of year. I love the Holidays so very much! I mostly love them due to free time and family time! Yay!

Tonight Clint and I are going to the Third Day concert in Tallahassee. I am so excited. We have had these tickets for quite a while! The beauty of it all is just getting to spend time with my husband other than the normal 1 hour dinner break. I am thankful for those, but I cherish the special out-of-the-ordinary days so much!

Next Sunday night our Sunday School class is having a get-together where there will be a pumpkin carving contest. Watch out! Clint and I carved our first pumpkin together last year, and I know that the end result of that pumpkin would NOT win a thing in any kind of contest. SO, I am searching for ideas and helpful hints in the area of pumpkin carving!

This Saturday we are planning to get up early and take a tour of the YMCA. To be honest, I need help. We have been watching The Biggest Loser for the past few weeks and every time I turn it on, I get the guilty feeling. I have always been the “big” girl and have pretty much pretended to not be bothered by it my whole life. But…I am. I am the biggest I have ever been and it is scary. I have tried everything in the book to lose weight, and the only thing that worked was exercise and watching everything that goes into my mouth. I have been successful before, and know I can be again. Clint is also going to be going with me and working out too. Pray for us that we will stay strong and think happy thoughts when we want to quit. I don’t want this to be a weight loss blog, but hopefully you will hear nothing but good things.

School is going okay. I really do like Middle school and the students I teach, but the organization of the department leaves a lot (A LOT) to be desired. I know this is only the second school I have taught at, (third if you count my internship) but sheesh! It is 2009 and we are TOTALLY connected with email in every room, but somehow, someway, I (along with the other 6th grade teachers) still manage to be left out of the loop. It is quite frustrating and needs to get better before I let my pains be known!

My family is doing well. I REALLY REALLY miss my sisters. It is funny how growing up, you cannot picture life without them (even though life without them sounds good at the time). Growing up you feel like things will never change and will always stay the same…good and bad. But my how they change. I long for the days of pajams and movies and family trips. I miss it! Elizabeth still has a couple years left in Germany, but seems to be enjoying it. They are in a tift with their landlord right now which is making things a little miserable for her. Danielle is doing so well in Colorado. She really likes her job, has found a wonderful church and has made lots of friends. I was doing well until she sent me a picture of her new hair cut…I loved the hair, but I got so sad. I miss her! Katy is working like a crazy woman. She works for a new apartment complex back home and is wonder woman there. She has just made a huge step into the real world by moving to an apartment with her boyfriend. Regardless of my feelings on the situation, I love her and want the best for her. I miss her! I am contemplating a trip home the weekend of Halloween so maybe I will get to see her. I wouldn’t mind seeing my sweet sweet niece Allison Joy! I love that kid!

Well, I think that about does it. My next post should include pictures from our concert tonight and maybe a few from Homecoming week.

Love to you all!

Until next time,
Sam

1 funny 1 vent

Last Friday I mentioned to my students that Clint and I were moving to a new apartment and we prayed for the move during Bible class. When I got back to school on Monday, I had a student say (in the “blondish” way of a 6th grade girl) “So, Mrs. Thompson, now that you live in an apartment, you get free breakfast right?” “Um, No, I don’t live in a hotel!” It was quite humorous!

That was my funny, now here is my not so funny/vent!

When a student fails to do their homework, the handbook says they get a zero. Period. No make up work, no notes from mom….a ZERO. On top of that, there is a place in the handbook that talks about being unprepared for class…that gets a detention. So, if you don’t have your homework you get a Zero and a detention. The zero doesn’t do much for the student…they don’t see the trouble a zero brings to their average and usually they have plenty of grades to make up for that zero. BUT…the referral for a detention…buddy that works. They tear up, get quiet and guess what….they do their homework the next night. I don’t enjoy giving the referrals simply because I am the one that has to stay late in order for them to serve their detention, however I GET IT! I get the point of a detention and I get the fact that we are trying to train them to be responsible.

WELL….last week, this horrible act of a zero and detention happened to a student whose dad just so happens to have a little bit of “power.” I like the man don’t get me wrong, but he has another thing coming. Since his sweet son didn’t do his homework and got a zero AND a detention…daddy decides to throw out the rule of the referral. Just THREW IT OUT! SO I had to back track and ended up having to explain to 15 FIFTEEN parents that the detentions their children had served were no longer going to happen. Absolutely ridiculous. SO now, a kid doesn’t do their work….no biggy. It’s just a Zero!

I am still contemplating going to the higer ups….we shall see!

Thank you for letting me vent! I hope you all have a great weekend!

Until next time,
Sam

Settled?!?!?

Not quite, but we are getting there!

The move this weekend went about as well as moves go! Everything made it out of the old apartment and into the new apartment, with the exception of one candle that my brother-in-law Wesley dropped and broke. That was NO biggie, due to the fact that the candle was from the Dollar Tree! :)

We were SO THANKFUL for the help that was able to come. My Dad and stepmom, Clints Mom and Dad, both of Clint's brothers and his brother's friend from college, Judson, were all there to help. We were extremely appreciative for all they did.

We took a break about 12:30 for lunch at Sonny's BBQ. It was great. This was the first time since our wedding that my Dad and Cindy and Clint's parents were together. It went really well and everyone was really comfortable...UNTIL... I thought my MIL was going to come accross the table and beat up my dad...not really. BUT...you must know...that EVERYTIME we go out to eat with my in-laws, they pay. And..don't you even dare try to reach for your wallet. Well, they met their match. My dad caught the waitress first and told her to bring him the entire bill. My MIL heard a little of the conversation, they argued in fun for a moment and all was well. I loved it!

We LOVE LOVE LOVE our new place. It has SO much more room and has a ton of little perks that make us love it even more. Our only complaint thus far is the fact that the living room is quite a bit smaller that what we had before. This is due to the fireplace, which we like. We ended up having to put our loveseat in the office. It makes it a quite nice little room of sports/computer/reading, so its all good. This left us with only a couch to sit on in the living room. SO...we bought a recliner last night. It is SO comfy! It is olive green and quite nice. So much for the blackberry plans with my birthday money...it's all good though...Christmas is coming!

School is in FULL FORCE! Grandparents day on Thursday and Homecoming (madness) week is next week. YIKES! I am battling a cold, which is never fun, but especially when coralling 60ish 6th graders around all day. I hate to say this, but I am counting the days until the weekend so I can get some rest and get that "settled" feeling.

Happy birthday Holly! Love ya!

Until next time,
Sam

27!

That’s right! I have hit the 27th year!

I had a fantastic birthday! We woke up Sunday morning about 15 minutes earlier than normal so I could open my presents. I, of course, was excited, but my wonderful husband was SO excited! He always puts such thought into the gifts he gives, the paper he uses to wrap them and the card he picks out! He is the best!

From him, I got some great stuff. A very pretty plaque with a T on it; Perfume; red pens (I love them); A new Karen Kingsbury book; the movie 13 going on 30; a new outfit (jeans and a shirt…he asked the sales associate to help him) and a brand new, HUGE crock pot! I wanted a crock pot, bigger than the one I already have, quite badly! What a sweetie!

Saturday I got a few cards in the mail, a little bit of money and a package from my dear friend Holly! She got me a DVD of a worship singer that I LOVE LOVE LOVE! Thanks Holly!

Sunday after church we got to go to Olive Garden for lunch, my choice. Definitely not Clint’s place of choice, but it was SO yummy.

We drove to Tifton where we had cake, presents and dinner. The best part of my day was being surrounded by my family! I really miss them. My mom and Larry were there as well as my Grandma and Grandpa. It was great!

I racked up with a few more gifts. The Office Season 5; really cute bath and body works soap; cook book; dish towels and a Double Boiler! I wanted that too! I also got a rather handsome amount of cashola and will be using my b-day moola for a blackberry! Woohoo! I will be making the purchase after we get moved and settled!

My husband is amazing. He is the night owl of the family and each morning I wake up to see more and more and more boxes packed, taped and labeled! He is making this moving experience SO much better on me! This is the first Time I haven’t had to do it all alone and I am so thankful for him!

Must close. Almost time for a pep rally! Woo hoo (that was said sarcastically!)

Until next time,
Sam

Life Sweet Life

Go check out my new blogfriend's blog. She is doing a giveaway! Woohoo!

http://teammartinok.blogspot.com/

Sarah...this is for you!



Sam

So...WE'RE MOVING!

Yeah...you read that right! This thought NEVER entered our minds until..we saw a sign! "I saw the sign, and it opened up my eyes I saw the sign..."

Yesterday I came home from work and saw a sign that said 3 Bedroom apartments for a MUCH cheaper price then we pay for our 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom apartment. I just thought...hmmm...

In walks Clint. "Hey, did you see that sign?" So off we went to the apartment office to ask a few questions. And...here we are...LESS than 24 hours later...packing up our apartment ready to move!

Yeah, it is only accross the street to another apartment, but it is SO much better!
Here are our pros:

1) Upstairs! More privacy and no people peeking in your open patio door.
2) Fireplace...Yes...A FIREPLACE
3) a Two section sink! For the last year and few months, I have had a one tub sink. SO annoying!
4) 3 bedrooms...MORE space!
5) 2 Bathrooms!
6) Cheaper...weird I know...we asked and they have no explanation for us...but We'll take it!

The only con is that we have ONE WEEK! To pack, move, and clean the old one! ONE WEEK! We have called our family and have our strong fathers on board to help us out! Also, possibly Clint's brother and maybe my Grandma and Grandpa. We'll see! WOW!

So...enough of that! Got lots and lots of work to do. Tomorrow is my birthday which does not include packing or cleaning of any type!

Wish us luck!

Until next time,
Sam

Catching Up

This past weekend I spent most of my time in bed. I was SICK! I mean SICK! It came from nowhere and thankfully didn’t last long. Sunday I wasn’t even able to go to church, which felt so strange. My husband took such great care of me and even went to Wal Mart at 1 a.m. to get some Pepto and Gatorade. I love that man!

Monday came and went and besides being extremely exhausted from being sick and getting behind on house stuff, it was a good one. Tuesday I got my hair cut (about 2 weeks too late) (I was looking rough) and was in for a night of relaxation, or so I thought. I ended up spending the evening practicing for my chapel debut.

I had been asked about 3 weeks ago to speak in Elementary Chapel, 3K through 5th grade. This is SO not my thing to stand in front of a LARGE group of children and adults and speak. I spoke this morning and survived. From what fellow teachers have said, I did a good job. That, however, doesn’t change the fact that my hands were shaking, my legs were quaking and my heart was pounding. I felt like I was in Freshman Speech all over again!

Tonight is church. I do love church, but Wednesday’s are definitely long! To top it off, it is rainy and dreary outside. Makes me want to curl up with a good book, a cup of coffee and a blanket. I don’t think Barnes and Noble would appreciate all of that…we shall see!

Until next time,
Sam

Made me smile

Okay, this is a quick one, but as soon as it happened, I thought, "I have to blog this!"

During lunch, I sit at the head of the table and think to myself and try not to evesdrop too much on the 6th grade conversation going on right next to me.

All three Kindergarten classes are finishing up their lunch just about the time I sit down to start eating. My "babies" as I call them, have remembered to look for me each day and wait for me to look at them and catch eyes, then we smile and wave. Ocassionally they call out "Mrs. Thompson" in their sweet little voices, and I simply wave back at them. I LOVE getting to see them.

Today, my sweet Ashlynn, whom I love so so much and have written about quite a bit on here, sees me while carrying a tray about the size she is. She smiles and I notice that she is mouthing something to me....of which I didn't/couldn't understand. I gave her a questioning look and over two tables in the cafeteria, and the noise of a bunch of middle schoolers, she Y....E....L...L...S "GRANNY SAYS HI!!!"

How precious! PRECIOUS! I loved her Granny! I wanted her Granny to be my Granny! She did make me my very own pound cake every so often, that is kind of like being my Granny!

I decided to share this post rather than telling you about a 6th grade boy that said, outloud, "If I would have forgot that bag, I would have been so pissed off!" SHOCKED! I WAS SHOCKED!

Okay,

Until next time,
Sam

A Little Scare

Last night as I was drifting off to sleep at 9 p.m. (I know it was early, but I had been FRETTING all day over a dentist appointment and ended up having two fillings done, I was pooped) my phone buzzed for a text message. Curious, though sleepy, I stumbled out of bed to check it. It was my sister Danielle and her message simply said “where is your blog?” I was very confused because I thought she read my blog therefore she knew the address. So, I didn’t answer. I stumbled back to bed and off I went…into dreamland…without a care in the world.

When the alarm went off at 5:30, I woke up, got my shower, got my bowl of Life and my glass of OJ and started the coffee pot, then headed to get on the computer where I eat my breakfast, check my websites and do my daily Bible reading. As I sipped my OJ and clicked on my blog, my heart stopped. My blog was gone! GONE! I could not figure out what happened. I started to panic and get upset, but decided to relax and hope that it would fix itself.

To be honest, I didn’t think twice about it for the rest of the day until I checked my email during Study Hall. I got a Facebook Wall Post from my other sister, Elizabeth, asking what happened to my blog and that she would be very sad if I deleted it. Again…panic. Not panic because I like all the world to know me, not panic because I think I am the best writer ever, but panic because all of my memories that I worked to hard to type out, were gone! GONE!

I took the next few minutes and tried to contact Google Blogger, but no luck. I clicked around a few more times, until, WA LA…..The Thompson Times!!!! I would have shouted for joy, but I was in my classroom….with students. I chose to smile instead.

I haven’t updated in a while, so I am taking this as my cue to update now. Maybe blogger was mad at me.

Today has been crazy crazy crazy! From the time I woke up, through the morning, (bad students, missed meetings, no time to review for our Science test tomorrow, P.E. teacher not showing up, ME teaching P.E. (we reviewed for Science ), a meeting with the BIG BOSS at 3:30, and sixth grade parent night tonight at 7, which causes me not to get home until 9:00 p.m.) I am ready for the weekend. I don’t like “wishing the days away,” but boy am I ready for Friday.

Thanks for reading!

Thanks for checking on me D and E! Love you two!

Until next time,
Sam

Oh.My.Soul!

Oh my soul is right! I have just returned from a most amazing experience that I hope to dwell in and think upon in the weeks to come! I went to my very first Beth Moore Conference. Well...kind of. It was a Simulcast. But...I felt like I was there, with her and the praise team, in Wisconsin. A.MAZ.ING!

First and foremost it was amazing due to the fact that we serve an amazing God! (Amazing doesn't do Him justice!) All that Beth brought before the women at the conference was nothing new...it is His Word, that has always been, but she brought it at JUST the right time, in JUST the right words and my oh my, did I need to hear it!

The entire 3 session weekend was based on Psalm 37:4. The same verse that growing up, I would quote over and over. "Delight thyself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart." Easy enough right?!?! Her explanation of the desires of our heart and our hearts desire were so great. I won't try to repeat what she said, but I will say this. You have GOT to get your hands on her lessons on this verse. Somehow, some way, you HAVE TO!

She had 7 points taken from Psalm 37:1-9 that I will copy for you in hopes of striking your interest button just enough so you will figure out a way to hear these lessons!

1. Nothing dictates our lives like our desires.
*At the end of the day, we do what we want to!
2. Beneath the desires of our heart, is the heart of our desires.
*Look for what is present in the absence!
3. Delighting in God adapts our desires into inevitabilities.
4. Nothing external can steal our right to delight.
5. To make room for delight we have to commit.
6. Nothing is passive about potentially waiting for desire to turn into delight.
7. Till faith becomes sight, TRUST GOD and DO GOOD.

I hope this blesses somebody, somewhere!

Until next time,
Sam

Waiting for my nails to dry...

I painted my nails tonight. One good way for them to dry and still be prodctive is to type. So...here I am!

Friday was the first day of school, and in a mere 8 hours, I will wake up to start day 2. The first day whizzed by in a blur! I met all of my students, explained my expectations and accomplished all that I set out to for a first day.

I believe I have the best 6th grade class out of the three that are there, but you know...that's my opinion!

At lunch, I was TOTALLY out of my element since last year we did not eat in that cafeteria. I was paying attention to the kids, the soda machines that they were using that they weren't supposed to be using and trying to get them to the right tables. All of a sudden the principal walked up to me and told me I had just caused quite a "ruckus"! I had NO idea what she was talking about. She went on to explain that the Kindergarten teacher had to physically restrain 4 of her students from running accross the cafeteria to me. 4 of my former little ones saw me and just HAD to give me a hug. Bless their hearts. They didn't get to, which I totally understand, but it made me smile. I did wave at them from accross the tables and it absolutely made my day!

Do you know that I got to leave the school at 3:45? Do you know that is my regular departure time? Do you know that I do not step foot on that playground? Can I get an amen??

Saturday I drove up to Tifton to go to the revival at my In-laws church. Eddie Middleton, a former NewSong member, was the singer/preacher. He was amazing and it was just the kick in the pants I needed to start the school year off! This upcoming Friday and Saturday I am attending a Beth Moore Simulcast at a church in Thomasville. I am REALLY excited about this. It is the closest I could get to seeing her live...maybe one day!

Alrighty...nails are dry...time for bed!

Until next time,
Sam

Status

My Facebook Status today said: "Samantha T is feeling more encouraged than ever. Our God is SO faithful!"

Here are a few reasons for my encouragement:

* I am REALLY teaching 6th grade now! It seems to good to be true...but it is! I met a bunch of my students yesterday and I am officially ready for the first day of school tomorrow!

* Since I teach in a Christian School, the obvious reason we do what we do is to share the Love of Jesus with our students and families. I have always known this, but this year, the spirit of the faculty and staff is so where it is supposed to be! My prayer is that it stays that way...even through the valleys!

* I had a parent volunteer to be my home room coordinator. She is on the ball! I already received an email from her asking me all my favorites! YAY!

* We officially paid off Clint's surgery from last September! Our goal was a year, and thank you Jesus, we took care of it 3 weeks ahead of time!

* I found the CUTEST black shoes today for $7!

* I am going to Revival at my In-Laws church on Saturday and am excited about that!

I know there are many many more...but for now...this is where I am!

Until next time,
Sam

Unbelieveable!

Since we got our DVR, I have been even more addicted to the food channel than ever before! I have been taping DVRing pretty much every show that is a new episode. The other day, I watched my favorite Southern Belle, Paula Deen, make the most scrumtious looking Spice Cake I have EVER seen. So....today I decided to try my hand at it! She made it look so easy, and it SO was! She made it look delicious...AND IT WAS! I wish my vocabulary could precisely describe how truly wonderful it is. Oh my!

Here is the recipe, let me know if you try it!

Paula's Spicy Cinnamon Cake

1 (18 ounce) package spice cake mix
1 (3 1/2 ounce) package vanilla instant pudding mix
1 cup sour cream
4 eggs, beaten
1/2 corn oil ( I did buy the corn oil, but I bet it would work with another type)
5 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 cup chopped pecans (I love them, but you can leave out)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 10-inch tube/bundt pan.
2. Combine cake mix, instant pudding, sour cream, eggs, and corn oil and beat together well.
3. In a separate bowl, combine sugar, cinnamon, and pecans.
4. Pour half of the batter into prepared pan and sprinkle with sugar mixture, reserving a little to sprinkle on top.
5. Pour the rest of the batter into pan and sprinkle with the rest of the sugar mixture.
6 Bake 1 hour. Let cool and remove from pan.

For Real?

I am amazed, shocked, pleased and just plain in awe!

Today was my first day back at work...inservice...blech! However, with my new resolve to be Mrs. Positive (even more than I already am), I was really excited! And, much to my surprise, it was great! Great? Yes...great!

In the past I have been used to meetings where teachers were spoon fed every little detail. To the point of administrators actually reading the handbook to us...yeah..for real! Not this year, it has been short. sweet. and to the point. Not that we don't get what we need by any means, but they trust that we are able to read the 100+ page faculty manual all by ourselves.

One of the issues I have stuggled with since I was in high school was the ability people have to ask the dumbest questions at the worst times in these types of meetings. NOT ONCE today did I experience that. I left the meetings with a smile on my face every time!

My classroom is DONE! It is the first day of inservice and my classroom is DONE! Unbelieveable! I have NEVER experienced that...granted this is only my 6th year teaching....but usually I am a stressed/panic mess! I even had a chance to do my lesson plans for the first day of school!

I am working with two wonderful teachers. Ms. Y and Mr. K. They are both old enough to be my parents and they are established in life as well as happy in life. They both have grown children and there is ZERO drama. It is amazing to me! I am thrilled to be working with them and can't wait to learn all I can from them!

Right now, it is 9:40 on a Friday night. Clint is working SO HARD getting a "preview" (magazine thing) ready for football season. I didn't see him yesterday or today. I am going to try REALLY hard to wait up for him tonight. I have folded laundry all around me and am waiting for the last load to dry. I usually do my laundry on Saturdays, but what I do today, I wont have to do tomorrow! I am watching the little league baseball team from my hometown, Warner Robins, GA, play in the World Series on ESPN and sipping on my Diet Coke from Whataburger (don't hate me Karen). I just checked my sister's (Dani) blog that she has updated...first time in a YEAR...and am reminded once again how truly blessed I am.

I will close for now.

Until next time,
Sam

Remember

4 more sleeps.

That is all.

Until what you ask? Until inservice begins and my life as a summer bum is officially over. No time to panic now, just stating the facts!

Remember this girl?


She is the one on the left. Her name is Ashlynn and she was by far one of my favorite 4K girls of the past year! I LOVE that little girl! Anyway, before I have an emotional meltdown, I must continue! Back in April, we were learning about plants. So, I pulled one of my old 4th grade projects from the back of my mind and did it in 4K. Yep...we planted lima beans in a plastic cup. The kids loved it and enjoyed being able to check on it daily.

I got an email from Ashlynn's mom today. It simply stated that Ashlynn told her that she HAD to show Mrs. Thompson the picture of her lima bean plant. Apparently she had taken the plant to her grandma's house and convinced them they HAD to plant it in the yard. The thing is now 4 1/2 feet tall and they have harvested it twice now! I just smiled! So precious!



The only thing better than this would have been a picture of sweet Ashlynn standing with her plant!

Alrighty...nothing more to post other than the fact that I saw the movie Julie and Julia today. It was fantastic!

Love to you all!
Until next time,
Sam

Joshua 1:9
...Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.

This was the verse that I clung to a year ago. I am sitting here with a lovely cup of hazelnut coffee, still in my pj's, and listening to the humm of the AC. I just did my morning devotions and ran accross this verse. It brought me RIGHT back to a year ago.

Last year at this time:
*I was getting ready to start a new job, in a new city, with new people.
*That job was unlike anything I had ever done in the past.
*I lived 45 minutes from my job and had no idea what it was going to be like to make that drive every day.
*I had NO FRIENDS, which was a constant reminder of everything I had left behind to come here.
*I now had an amazing husband who worked crazy hours and I thought I was going to lose my mind with all of my alone time. I KNEW it was about to get worse as I started working. I was terrified.
*I felt the weight of the world on my shoulders as gas prices went up, food prices went up and we were meshing the finances and bills from two people who had lived the single life for quite a while.
*Did I mention I had no friends? That was hard on me, but harder on my husband. He and I would have so many heart to hearts about it, which would turn to guilt on my part. I was discouraged.

Well the year went on and many changes took place in my life. I have NEVER regretted marrying Clint, leaving my job in Nashville, moving to Thomasville and working in Tallahassee...NEVER! But that is not to say it wasn't hard. That is not to say there weren't times of weeping and sadness. That is not to say it was an easy road. But you know, now that I look back at a year ago, I am so thankful. I am so thankful that I serve the God of Love that Promised to take care of me. He promised to "be with me wherever I go." I KNEW that and I FELT that as I made it through the first year. I listened to Christian music everywhere I went and it soothed my heart. It brought me to tears a lot of times, but it was such a blessing.

I was driving home last night from a post VBS meeting at Cracker Barrel in Tallahassee, and I was thinking. I do that a lot! I was thinking about this year in review idea and how marvelous it is to have made it. How wonderful it is to have survived and come out better on the other side. I wrote the then....here is the now.

Now:
*That new job, in a new city has made me a better teacher. Period. There is no way around that. Initially I saw it as passing time until something better came along, but my oh my was I wrong. It was exactly what I needed to view teaching as something totally different than I had before. I have learned to slow down and stop and smell the roses of my work day. Yeah, some of them might smell bad, but I am stopping and smelling.
*The 45 minute drive is still a bummer and will hopefully change by this time next year. (All depends on Clint getting a job in tallahassee) But that 45 minute drive has done wonders for me. There is no rushing around in the morning...I have to be organized and all planned out. I have come to have a stronger love for coffee. I have learned to eat a granola bar while driving...with NO crumbs. (I did try a bagel once...NOT a good experience) I have improved my singing...(well, not really) but I do sing alot, alot of good stuff that refreshes my soul. But best of all, My Jesus and I have amazing conversation during that 45 minute drive...seriously!
*I have friends. Not a ton. Not like my other friends. But still, I have friends. Some of them could be my mother. Some of them could be my sister. Most of them have children. I have friends! That makes my heart smile!
*I still have an amazing husband that gets me! He still has that crazy work schedule, but we deal with it. We have learned not to take the hour a day that we see each other for granted. He listens to all of my silly stories from the day. I listen to all of his sports stuff. He doesn't get upset if things aren't done around the house. He knows I will get to them. He is my best friend, my love and my biggest fan! In the last year, my love for him has grown bigger and better than I ever thought it could!
*Money worked itself out! It always does when God has it! He provided everything we needed and then some! I have a second job working at the church as the Children's coordinator now and my life has taken a whole new route I never thought it would take! I am so thankful for opportunities...although new...although a little scary...they are there and ready to be taken!

Ahhh....that felt good! I am so glad I did that. Now when I start with the feeling sorry for myself days, I can look back at this and remind myself how incredibly blessed I am.

One more thing...my family has been amazing through the entire first year adjustment. I am living 41/2 hours closer to them than I ever did in my single years. NOT ONCE have they asked...why don't you come, we never see you or anything of the like. They say over and over...we take what we can get! We are happy to see you when you can. AND..the best one...We are proud of you! I love my family!

Alrighty...off to wake my husband...its almost lunch time...that man can sleep! Oh yeah...and we got DVR yesterday! SO FUN!

Until next time,
Sam

Just in time...

Ahhhh....summer....IT CAME AND WENT! I was reading through my blog the other day and could almost taste my excitement as I read about the summer I so longed to have. That summer came...and that summer, for me, will end in 8 short days. Friday the 14th I go back for Inservice followed by the first 4 days of the next week, which includes open house and school officially starts Friday the 21st.

Am I ready? Funny question. Yes. Is that weird? I have always been the one ready to go back. As a student and as a teacher. Don't get me wrong..I love sleeping in, spending the morning with Clint and doing things around the house as I please. But, to me, there is something about a routine and a schedule that I just love. I will be hating these words as my alarm goes of at 5am next Friday...I know I will. I have gone shopping, gotten my yearly calendar and desk calendar. I have gotten 2 new paris of shoes and several new outfits (love Georgia Tax Free weekend). I am ready!

Have I read my Science Book? Nope. I know. Pitiful! It will all come together like it always does, every year! I am not worried!

I found out something yesterday that made me absolutely Praise my Jesus for getting me out of a situation I was in! As you all know, I taught Preschool last year, for one year, and it was not my favorite thing in the world. I found out that THIS year they have switched to YEAR ROUND preschool! I am SO thankful I will not be part of that! I have learned not to say "there is no way" or "never", but I will say, Thank you Jesus that it is not me! Those teachers are really bummed, and I can't say I blame them in the least. There is something to be said about having a job at all, but for it to be completely changed with no warning, has to be hard! Yipes!

As for my church Job, all is well. I have about 10 emails to send this morning and here I am blogging, but I just had to get that out!

Until next time,
Sam

VBS 2009

The Chicken is in the oven, the dryer hasn't buzzed and Clint wont be home for 45 more minutes, so I have a little time to write a new post.

Back in May when I was approached about the possibility of being the "Children's Coordinator" at church, one of my first thoughts was VBS. Thankfully I was instructed that this summer, I would sit back, relax and take it all in, so I could be the ring leader of next year's VBS.

Did I sit back?.....No!
Did I relax?......Nope!
Did I take it all in?....OH YEAH!

This year's theme was Crocodile Dock. The basis of this was teaching the Children not to have fear. I tell ya...I learned a lot and really believe God used the simple lessons for the children in my life as well!

The young man that was the "VBS Director" this year...JP...did a pretty good job! I can tell his niche is decorating and singing/dancing...which is great for me since neither of those three things rank really high on my list of favorites! He is quite young, 20, and has much to learn, but for the most part he did really well.







The first day was hectic. I am just being honest. But really, what first day of anything isn't hectic? I found myself at the registration table dealing with lots and lots of parents and excited kids. We averaged about 210-215 kids. I did a lot of running around and covering up mistakes that were being made. (JP announcing the grand finale was at 7 when it was really at 6:30...that happend for TWO solid days) I also got to run up a little hill about 10 times on Friday due to a frantic phone call from a mother who was about to call the police...totally all her fault, and thankfully everything worked out, but that was a scary 25 minutes. It is interesting how being the "boss" brings SO MUCH MORE responsibility!

Friday night was the Grande Finale. We had about 50 kids make desicions regarding their salvation, which I got to take part in on Thursday and Friday. Let me tell you...I cried everytime I talked about the plan of Salvation with the groups of kids that would come in from counseling. Everytime I explain what Christ did for us, it just grabs me like it was the first time I heard it! I am so thankful that it doesn't get old...that it amazes me everytime I hear it or tell it! Anyway, about 18 of those kids got Baptized on Friday evening. That was the most beautiful thing I have seen in a long time! Each child had to have a parent with them. Every single parent was so proud of their children and there was not a dry eye in the baptismal area. The kids were so happy for themselves and the parents likewise. It really made every pain, every mess up, every cranky moment...worth it!

This post wouldn't be complete without mentioning the teenagers! I spent a lot of time as a teen working at church whether in the nursery, children's church, or VBS. I was always doing something. For a small time, I honestly thought those days were over in the lives of teenagers out there. But...I was so wrong! This VBS would NOT have been possible without a HUGE handful of teenagers that gave up their week...8am to 12pm....and volunteered. I remember one year I did the snack room, one year I did the penny counting....but it wasn't until I was an adult that I actually had my own group of kids...I believe it was for socializing reasons. Not these teenagers...they had kids of all ages and didn't get to just hang with their friends. They were really great!

Alrighty...dryer buzzed...that is my sign to finish this up! I learned alot at this VBS and am already brainstorming the dos and don'ts of next year! Wish me luck!

Until Next Time,
Sam

NEW

We have made it back home to the great state of Georgia after our week of traveling. In that week we traveled about 1,600 miles! It was a lot, but I really enjoyed hanging with my man and seeing so many of our friends and family. We got home last night and got settled in. I am now listening to the last load of clothes run through the dryer and taking a moment to blog before I iron our clothes for church tomorrow.

The title of this post says it all. So many new things going on, some fun and silly, others serious and intimidating....either way....they are all new. So...sit back, relax and enjoy as you see the new in our life...for now

1. Helmet
My dear sweet husband has a growing facination of all things autographed...it doesn't matter if he was there when it happened, he just loves it. Slowly our guest/computer/sports/tredmill room has been overrun with his autographed memorabilia. The newest edition came in the mail this past week. We worked and worked and worked in the fields this summer...I bought a camera and he bought this


A Georgia Bulldog football helmet signed by the one and only, Herschel Walker. Clint was like a giddy schoolboy while he opened this package. Right now the dilemma is deciding where to put it....we are running out of room for sure...however, I am happy that he is so happy with his collection!

2. Computer
Lately I have discovered that my calling in life is not to be a "stay-at-home (fill in the blank)." I am not as organized as one would need to be to pull that off. Don't get me wrong, I am an organized person, but the work-at-home business is not for me. Since taking the job as the Children's Coordinator at my church, I have HAD to work from home. I do it because it is my job, but seriously sitting on my couch and trying to conduct business, do research and word emails in the right fashion has not been easy. I decided a little while ago that I NEEDED a desktop computer. Long story short, my grandparents got a brand new one recently and had no reservations in passing along their computer to us. It is SO nice and gets the job done, and moves quite fast might I add. When picking up the computer from my grandparents we did not realize they would be keeping their monitor. We didn't have one and decided it was a necessary part of computing to have one. I immediately knew I wanted a flat screen monitor so off we went to Wal Mart. Long story short...we got one, for 30% off because it was a display monitor. Now, my friends, I can sit at my desk and feel like I am accomplishing things as I check off my lists! LOVE it!


3. Books
I have two new books that are calling me to read them. The first is my 6th grade Science book that I have had, sitting in the same place, all summer long. I have been meaning to read it, but you know how that goes. I have been thinking a lot about my preschoolers from last year and how much I really miss them. It is amazing to me how God does things like that in our lives. Something I never thought in a million years I would do, I did, I did it (somewhat) well, and I truly believe I learned SO much through that experience. With that being said, I have no desire to do it again, but if that is what the Lord has for me in the future, I am willing. I am eagerly anticipating 6th grade. I am anxiously awaiting the start of a NEW school year and I am filling my time with prayers to my Father about the upcoming year.


And lastly, my new book, Think Orange. I asked one of the neatest Pastor's I know to reccommend a "Children's Ministry" book to me, and this was the one he reccommended. I ordered it and now I have it. I have read the first page and know that with an open heart and open mind, I can learn alot! My prayer is that I will get "out of the box," and that I will find other people with a passion to do the same. I am excited about the things to come and look forward to learning all that the Lord would have me to.


And there you have it. The new in our life for now!
Off to iron,
Until next time,
Sam

Road Trip!!

Well hello! I am sitting in the jeep as we barrel down the road and head to South Carolina. We have been driving for about an hour and have about six more to go…yuck!

We just said goodbye to my friends in Nashville. We had a B-L-A-S-T! Friday we went to the rehearsal and the rehearsal dinner. Everything went well and I could tell it was going to be a great wedding. We had a good time chatting with Donnie, Holly, Ashley and Betty!

Saturday we were able to sleep in a little and hang out with Karen until time to leave for the wedding. It was SO FUN to get to sit around in my pj’s and chat with my very best friend while my husband slept in the other room. We had coffee and cinnamon rolls and seriously did not start getting ready until about noon. We talked and talked and talked some more. It was so great to catch up and not miss a beat all at the same time. I love that girl!



After arriving at the church for the wedding…we got there early…we visited a little with the bride, Amber, who looked stunning! We chatted with the bridesmaids and just had a relaxing time as the minutes ticked by. I stood at the guest book and did my duties while greeting the wedding guests, many of which were surprised to see me. It was fun! The wedding was gorgeous and I definitely cried a little…well a lot! The reception was equally nice and I was able to catch up with old friends and enjoy the wedding festivities. All in all it went really well and I am SO glad we were able to go! Amber and Donald are married now and on their way to a Cruise for their honeymoon! SO happy for them!

After the wedding, we went back to Karen and Ricky’s to change, wait for Ricky to come home from work and get ready to go out to one of the best restaurants EVER! RED ROBIN. So So good! We met Holly and Donnie there and had a great time of eating and chatting. We then walked around the outdoor mall place and ended the night with a sleepy Holly at Barnes and Noble. I just love those two couples so much and am so lucky to have friends like that!!



After getting back to Karen and Ricky’s house, Ricky and Clint played baseball on the PS3 while Karen and I did something I like to call “cubecraft”…well that is what it is called. Basically you pick a little character thing off the website, print it out, cut it out and fold it up. Karen…my dear…has done several with her spare time….she loves it. I attempted my first…and most likely my last. Don’t ask me how she does that on a regular basis…I was about to crumble mine up and stomp on it. Poor Garfield!




We went to church this morning, saw some old students of mine (NOW headed to 8th grade) (taught them in 4th) (I am getting old) got a bite to eat, and now here we are….in the Jeep…on the road….admiring the mountains and reminiscing already about the great time that we had!

Thanks Karen and Ricky for letting us stay with you guys. You are the best!

Holly and Donnie, if all goes as your Aunt says it will, maybe I’ll be back next month…*wink, wink*

Until next time,
Sam