Summer Goals

Well...it's over. I have said my goodbyes and boohooed as expected. It didn't help that moms and grandmas were crying also. It was really sweet! I racked up on gift cards and baked goods and once again felt the love from my kiddos! All of my kids were gone by 12:00 and I was on my own.

My classroom was a MESS. It had reminents from a party and all the mess that goes with that. From about 1:00-5:30 I worked and trashed and purged my classroom. It was somewhat difficult because I didn't know what to do with all of my "personal belongings." I don't know if I am staying or going. I finally just put it all in boxes and it is just waiting in a corner. We shall see.

With summer comes a lot of fun and excitement. But...not everyday. There will be weeks that I sit around and wonder what to do. SO...in my quest to be productive and non-lazy, I am making a goal list.

Here it is:

- clean out guest closet

- clean out master closet

- clean out hall closet

- clean out dining room closet

- visit the library and read 5 books for pleasure

- read a book about children's ministry

- keep my toes painted

- orgainize our bills/important papers

- save money for a desktop computer


Stay tuned! I might add more! AHhhh!

Until next time,
Sam

I should be bouncing off the walls....

The title is correct. I should be bouncing off the walls! I should be shouting from the roof tops, throwing myself a party! Tomorrow is the last day of school. Tomorrow I will say goodbye to my "babies." Tomorrow I will wear a hawaiin skirt, flip flops and eat snow cones at our luau party. I should be bouncing off the walls....right???

Don't get me wrong...I am excited! I am ready for an exciting summer and the chance to spend lots more time with my love. I am SO excited! I mentioned a few weeks ago about a new job opportunity with my church. I have officially accepted and am now the "children's coordinator" for North Florida Baptist Church! I am excited about what that means and the doors that are opening because of it.

In the midst of my excitement...I am bummed.

I found out today that a girl I went to college with, Mal, was killed in a car accident on Sunday. It was a total shocker for me and I am so incredibly sad for their family. She was 24 and totally loved life. I know she was a believer and I am thankful that she is with Jesus, but my heart is just sad.

I have been following a fellow blogger for a while now. She is a great writer and very interesting to read. We actually went to college togther and she and her family have recently relocated to Nashville. I have only written her twice in the blog land and she has LOTS of followers, so I am sure she has no idea who I am. From what I gather, she and her husband and little boy have been attending my old church. I read her blog yesterday and found out that the baby she had been carrying for 6 months died in her womb. 6 MONTHS! My heart broke. My heart is just sad. I don't understand.

I have been in CONSTANT prayer since last Friday about my dear friend Holly and her husband Donnie. There was a chance that they would be chosen to adopt a baby that was already born...in their city. All we had to do was wait and pray. So that is whay I did. I prayed and cried, prayed and laughed, prayed and smiled. I LOVE that I can be so open with my Savior, and I love that He gets me! I found out Tuesday that they weren't chosen. I know that their faith is so strong and they are content with the fact that it wasn't their baby and that when its their time it will be perfect. I am amazed at their ability and know that the credit the Lord for it all. My heart is just sad. I wonder why it isn't their time. Why?

Lastly...and this minors in comparison to the previous three...but Jon and Kate Gosselin make me sad. I along with Clint have come to love the Gosselin family. I know it sounds cheesy, but I really do love those kids! I watched their show Sunday night and saw the "divorce train" barrelling down the tracks. It made me so sad. I think it is interesting how they can sit back and say "its all about the kids" "whatever is best for the kids"...and think that divorce would be at all best for the kids. I would like to have 5 minutes to tell them from a child of divorced parents, that divorce is not best for those kids. Whatever happend for fighting for your marriage? Whatever happened for choosing to love each day? The whole situation makes me sad.

Just getting it all out. Feel a tad better because of it. Thanks for reading.

Until next time,
Sam

A Whirlwind Weekend

We are back safe and sound from our weekend getaway! We had a blast! We started out Friday morning bright and early! We left about 9:45 and made our way to Perry, GA before stopping to potty, eat and switch drivers! We ended up making it to Toccoa by about 4:00, checked into the hotel and relaxed for about an hour before my mom and Larry, Grandma and Grandpa got there! We were settled into our hotel room and ended up having to switch with my grandparents because ours had a refrigerator. No, they didn’t really need it, but if you know my grandma, you’ll understand! We did it with smiles and it wasn’t that big of deal. Just typical!

We hung out and chit chatted until about 6:30 and then headed to meet up with Dani at her dorm/house/cottage thing. It was GREAT to see her! I hadn’t seen her since Christmas and I am so so glad I got to be a part of her special day! We went to the Baccalaureate service which was wonderful and very much a blessing! They had an amazing reception for the graduates and their families. Ice sculpture, fruits, veggies, meats, cheeses, and desserts galore….and don’t forget the chocolate fountain!





Saturday we woke up and got ready to go. We had to load up and head to the school. We got there in plenty of time and got really great seats! I met up with my Dad, Cindy and Katy for a few minutes and then settled in to watch my baby sister graduate from college! I am so proud! She is awesome! You just never know how your children/siblings are going to do when you send them off to school. You just have faith that they will stick to their morals and values and cling to what they have been taught. She has done so great! Meeting her friends was proof of that! She knew SO MANY people!







After the pomp and circumstance of the morning we were trying to find her, but because of the rain (and lots of rain) and tons of people, it was quite difficult! We finally found her and all was well. We met up with Dad and Cindy took a walk to the huge waterfall ON campus! It was beautiful and I am glad the rain stopped for a little bit so we got to see it! We then met up with Mom and the gang for a really nice lunch at the Cornerstone eatery. REALLY good sandwich shop! So nice! Dani got some gifts and felt like a queen. We gave her a new Vera Bradley purse and wallet….her first! She was SO shocked and excited!




Saturday we drove to Warner Robins and enjoyed the evening with my Dad and Cindy. It was nice to visit. We went to Southside for church on Sunday morning! It was awesome! I know we serve an Almighty God…BUT…I had no idea I was going to hear the EXACT sermon I needed to hear for this time in my life! Seriously! I am so thankful that God has got it all under control.

We went to lunch with mom and Larry at Cheddars after church. SO YUMMY! We went to see their new flooring in their house. SO nice! Then we were off!

We went to the grocery store as we got into Thomasville so we could just get it done and not have to go out again. RAIN RAIN and more RAIN. Nothing like unpacking in the rain. Well…Clint did most of it to which I am very thankful!

All in all we had a great trip and I am so thankful I was able to go.
I know that was a lot to read, but I am passing time!

Until next time,
Sam

Change

TODAY should be my very last day of aftercare! I am THRILLED!

Clint and I are leaving tomorrow for Toccoa, Georgia! My little sister is graduation from college! We are SO excited! I am making homemade chex mix tonight, we have our diet cokes ready for the road, Dani’s gift is wrapped and ready….all I have left to do is laundry and packing! YIPEE! I am having a hard time concentrating because I am SO excited!

As I type this, Clint is at a job fair in Thomasville. He is SO OVER the newspaper business and trying to line things up to get out of it! We are thankful for the job he has, but we realize the time has come! We are praying that doors will open for him.

Change is something I have never been very good at dealing with. I am getting better at it the older I get, but it is definitely not my favorite thing in the world! My parents divorced when I was 15…CHANGE. My dad remarried when I was 16…..CHANGE. I moved 6 hours away to go to college for four years….CHANGE. My mom remarried when I was 21…CHANGE. I moved after college 6 hours away in another direction to take a job where I knew no one…CHANGE. Life was pretty calm for 4 years during my time in Nashville. Then….more CHANGE. I quit my teaching job in May of 2008, got married in June of 2008 and moved 9 hours from my normal….CHANGE. I started teaching preschool in August of 2009….CHANGE. I am currently anticipating CHANGE in the grade I am teaching for the upcoming school year. And then came yesterday.

Yesterday I had a meeting with one of the pastors of my church. This was a meeting that he called. Apparently I have been recommended to be the “Children’s Coordinator” for the church. This is a part time paid position. If I choose to accept this offer, this would be on top of my teaching job. The pay is quite amazing and would allow Clint and I to reach some financial goals and family goals a little sooner than expected. I love children and I have always loved working with them. I see the vision very clearly that the Pastor was talking about. I get it. However….my life would CHANGE drastically. For the better…yes….for the crazier….yes….but CHANGE! With this position, there would be no more weekend trips to Tifton to visit Clint’s family. Permission would have to be given for me to miss Church. I am not used to that. I am used to having freedom in that area. That scares me. I do believe with all of my heart that the Lord is involved in this and that His hand is controlling this entire thing. I just want to KNOW that I am doing the right thing in whatever we decide. So…if you think about it…pray for me. Pray for us. I have to let them know within the next two weeks.

I think this is all that is going on now…as if that is not enough!  9 more school days for me….can I make it??? Yes I can!

One funny from this morning:
Olivia: Mrs. Thompson, I know you wont be here tomorrow.
Mrs. Thompson: How do you know that? (I told them yesterday)
Olivia: Because I am a “Reed Minder!”

Thanks for reading such a scattered mess!
Until next time,
Sam

15 Days!

15 acutal school days until the end of the school year! I CANNOT believe it! I have to be honest and tell you that about the end of February, I was ready. I was ready to stop waking up at 5:30, leaving my house at 6:30, driving 45 minutes one way, breaking up fights, listening to whining, standing on the playground, dealing with drama, wiping snotty noses, tying shoes, opening lunch food and dealing with the emotions of 5 year olds. I was ready! Well...now that I know I have only 15 more days with these guys...I am NOT READY! I am not ready to give up their sweet "Good mornings Mrs. Thompsons", not ready to give up the hugs and the love, not ready to give up the funny things they say, not ready to give up their sweet families, not ready to miss seeing them sleep peacefully, not ready to miss out on their excitement for little things, not ready to miss out on telling them Bible stories, not ready to not hear their laughing and definately not ready to not see their sweet faces! I am sad...so so sad! Don't get me wrong...I am ready for our Disney trip, ready for our Braves game, ready to sleep in tons and ready to chill...but I am going to miss them! I will cry on the last day of school...I know I will bawl like a little tiny baby....I will be a puddle of mush....I just know it! I plan to make these last 15 days the greatest last 15 days ever. I will tell the best stories, read the best books, talk about Jesus so so much and take every hug and every smile and every laugh and put it in my pocket so I can look at them later! So...here is to the best last 15 days!

2 Funnies before I go...

This morning I was teaching them the "Wordless Book." We were on the gold page and I was asking them to tell me things that are gold.
Tyler: Streets in Heaven
Ashlynn: Rings
JaKayla: Jewelry
KayKay: Teef (teeth)

TEETH!!! It was all I could do not to laugh my head off! I managed to continue...but be assured I have laughed about it since!!

Also...we were coloring a page this morning that had 18 gingerbread cookies on it. The students were coloring them brown. I was being observed by a potential teacher for next year, so I was giving it my best! Olivia had raised her hand several times wanting me to look at her paper and I had ooohed and aaahed over it. A few moments later, she raised her hand with a sad/serious look, I walked over and she pointed at Jalen's paper...her neighbor...and said..."his are burnt!" HAHA! He was pressing a little harder than she was with his brown crayon, therefore making his gingerbread men look a bit darker than hers. It was so funny!

Alrigty...off for today!

Until next time,
Sam

Not Me Monday...

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.


Okay, so I have seen these on a few other blogs and I think they are kind of fun! Basically everything you read that I say I didn't do...I really did....I am just trying to make myself feel a little better. These "not me's" are from last week up to today.

Saturday, I absolutely did not slice my thumb open as I absent mindedly put a spatula in the dishwasher....missing the knife sticking out. I did not go through 5 band aids before it would stop bleeding and I did not panic thinking I would need stitches....not me....

Today, I did not wake up at 5:30 a.m., take a shower, and fall back asleep on the couch only to wake up at 6:51 a.m., (21 minutes AFTER I leave)....I would never do that.... I did not call my boss about 7:05 and tell her I would be ten minutes late, while going 85 in a 65 (shhh...don't tell my husband)....Not me, no, not me

While sitting through the first of MANY 4K promotion assembly practices, I did not roll my eyes one single time. I did not, mumble under my breath, "I can't take this", and I most certainly did not cringe on the inside as the "director extrodinare" sang oh so beautifully with these sweet darlings of ours. Not me....absolutely not me!

Oh yeah...and one more before I go....Last Tuesday, I did not make my famous chicken noodle casserole and leave out the chicken. That is so not me. I did not, not realize there was not chicken in our meal, until about halfway through. I did not think that was the funniest thing and did not get irritated with my husband because he wasn't as amused by it as I was....not me!

I am hoping to keep up with this! I hope you enjoyed!

Until next time,
Sam