Several things on my mind....

Goodbye...I really don't like saying goodbye! I didn't like saying it when I left college, I REALLY didn't like it when I left Nashville and I had a rough time saying it last night! Since getting married, moving and starting a new job, this time last year, we have met quite a few people. One couple in particular reached out to us more than anyone ever has. I got along great with Rachelle and Clint and Dan had so much in common. They invited us over so many times and always treated us like royalty! We loved their dog, Beasly and playing Rockband. She made THE best fettichini alfredo (she is Italian) I have ever tasted and they introduced us to PEGGLE (my new favorite video game). They are great people and we are really going to miss them! We wish them all the best as they start fresh in Lynchburg, VA. Dan will be working on his masters and hopefully get a teaching job for next year. Rachelle has gotten a job working with a Gym, starting an all-star cheerleading program from the ground up! Pretty cool huh? I know that life will go on and things will change, but right now, I am having a pitty party! We are so happy for Facebook!

Speaking of Facebook...mine is blowing up with comments at the moment. I simply wrote "Samantha Thompson has officially black listed Jon and Kate plus Eight." Not the people, I do pray for them, they are real people, with 8 real children, and real hearts! My heart breaks for those children. Their parents have chosen this. We all have our beliefs on right and wrong when it comes to divore, and let me just say, those kids WILL suffer. I don't care how they try to "work it out" with scheduling and making life as "normal as possible." They will struggle and suffer as the days go on. Take it from me! (And I don't even have to deal with paparazzi... they haven't found me) My parents divorced when I was 15 and my sister was 10. I know the Love of my Savior and the peace that He offers, I have all of that. BUT...to this day...12 years, a high school diploma, a blended family on one side, a college degree, a blended family on the other, wonderful friends, awesome life experiences, a steady job that I love, and the most amazing husband a girl could ask for....I STILL STRUGGLE!!! To be honest, I still have days that I blame myself...yeah...I said it! I can't imagine the crapola that those kiddos will face as the years go on. I know I probably sound like such a weirdo for caring about "people I will never meet," but I can't help it. Clint and I shook hands tonight vowing to not watch their show anymore. I just can't. I will however pray for them, by name, everyday! Sheesh....

On a lighter note...we leave Wednesday for a whole week of farming in Tifton, GA. I know I have mentioned this before, but my in-laws are watermelon and canteloupe farmers. I always get giddy around this time of year because in my words.."it's so neat," "it's so fun." I kind of get the eye roll from everyone else involved with it because they are so used to it. Last summer was my first real taste of it and I will say...it is HARD WORK...but I still think it is neat, and I still think it is somewhat fun! Hopefully we will make a little cash too! ;)

I have pretty much been up to nothing the last week or so. Just a little sleeping in, laundry, cooking, and work for my Church job. Life is good. I LOVE my husband, I CHOOSE to LOVE my husband daily, and for the record...I am SO IN LOVE with my husband! Ladies...hug him, kiss him, appreciate him, pray for him, view him as your prince...your husband that is! :)

Until next time,
Sam

Encouraged yet Cautious

So today was the first day since our vacation that I actually had to be somewhere! I enjoy my days of lounging, but a day like this every now and then isn't so bad!

I had a lunch date with my friend/teacher's aide, Ms. Washington. It is to the point now where I could call her Tonya, but it just seems so strange...I guess she will forever be Ms. Washington to me...that is until she marries Tim! Anyway, we went to Olive Garden for lunch...Yummy! And...I had a gift card from one of my students...nothing like FREE Olive Garden!

After lunch, I made my way back to the church to meet with two lovely ladies about the nursery manual....and a billion other things. I am so glad my new job came at the beginning of summer so I have some time to figure it all out before school starts again and I am doing both jobs. I prayed last night that the Lord would take away any feelings of being overwhelmed. I can't stand that feeling. He did it! He took them all away. As my list got longer and my questions became many...I did not feel overwhelmed whatsoever. Even when I left with a 32 page copy of the nursery manual to read and edit and have the final say on...not overwhelmed a bit! I got to speak with the new nursery director...yep, we are both new. She has been at the church about 3 years but was just a worker in the nursery, now she is the director. We are both forging our paths of unknown territory together. She is a blessing to me and in the 15 minute conversation we had, I learned so much! She has a husband who recently went through a kidney transplant and has two children (2 and 3) that both have autism. Yet...through that conversation, she was encouraging and positive and gave the Lord the glory! I am always amazed and humbled by people like that!

After that meeting I had some time to kill before my next meeting so I decided to go somewhere that I could accomplish much: air conditioned/coffee/shopping= the mall! I went to Barnes and Noble and had a frappachino and edited the entire nursery manual! Woohoo! I get to check that off the list! Then...I HAD to obey the Payless signs that were calling my name "BOGO Samantha!" So....two pairs of flip flops...mine! During this time I got a call from my love telling me that his belt broke again...so off to Ross I went. Got him a belt and decided to look for a much needed black dress for my dear friend Amber's wedding! I am the guest book girl and she requested a black dress! So...to pass a little more time before my next meeting...I parused(sp?) the shelves. I found one that I LOVE for $17!!! I was planning to spend about $50!!! I was so excited...I sent Amber a picture over text messaging and she too loved it and was excited!

Gees Louise I am writing a lot!

Off I went to my next meeting where we were provided with a wonderful supper from Longhorns. YUM again! Lots of notes/ideas/suggestions/ and concerns for the Children's ministry, but progress was made! Another time where I would normally have been overwhelmed...but I wasn't! HE did it again! I love my God! I went to church and was reminded once again of why we are here...what we are here for and WHO we serve!

A stop to walmart for dessert supplies for a cook out tomorrow and here I sit. A good day! Clint is off tomorrow and will be going back to the doctor. He had hernea surgery last september and is STILL having on and off pains. We just want to check it out. Please pray that he doesn't have to have another surgery!

I will keep you posted!

Until next time,
Sam

Back from Disney....

Well, we made it! We went to Disney last week and had a great time! I will spare you from our day to day routine, but please know that fun was had by all. Please also know that we will probably NEVER do a week long vacation with my parents and grandparents again. I don't want to bash anyone, but if you know me and know my family, specifically one member, you totally get it! The first 2 1/2 days were great...exciting, new and fun. After that...well...let's just go back to...NEVER again! :)

We got home Friday night to our Apartment which had freshly cleaned carpet! That was the perk we got for signing another year lease with them. We could have chosen a new kitchen faucet for the sink or dining room light fixture...but we wanted something that would benefit us...so clean carpet it was! It looked so nice! Before we unloaded a single thing from the jeep we had to go through and put everything back in its place..chairs, lamps, stuff...etc. Then we unloaded and chilled. I believe we had Zaxby's for supper and went to bed! Vacations are always great but the saying "I need a vacation to recover from my vacation" is oh so true. Good thing I get one!!

We went to church on Sunday and it was great to be back! I made myself available downstairs in the children's church area for questions/comments/concerns and let me tell you...I got some! It is a good thing I have learned to smile and hold my words throughout my life, because it is really coming in handy! I totally get the change that people want to see, but they don't understand that I can't do it alone and I can't do it in a matter of days. Sheesh!

Today is Monday and is my first true day of "Summer Break." I slept until about 11:00. Ate lunch with my hubby then sent him on to work. Two loads of laundry, emails to some church folk, Cleaned out my car, mailed a package, Spent some time with the Lord, read a few chapters in a great book, spent countless time on Facebook and here I sit. I am getting up now to go start supper before Clint comes home and we settle in to watch the Batchelorette....that's right, I said WE! Please don't tell him I said that! :)

Oh yeah...and we celebrated our One Year Anniversary on June 7th! Go us!

Alrighty,
Until next time,
Sam

FINALLY!

Hello there! So...I am just going to jump to the point...I FINALLY found out this past Monday that I am officially teaching 6th grade science next year! WOOHOO! I am so glad to have found out before summer officially begins! I can say goodbye to preschool...maybe not forever...but for now!

I have had outservice all week long! It has gone fairly well and being able to stretch all of my work and cleaning out over 4 whole days has been somewhat easy. Not a rushed situation at all. I have about 15 more minutes left in this Thursday work schedule and then I am off on my 40 minute drive. My classroom is spotless, chairs stacked, desks cleaned with much thanks to Magic Erasers and Goo-Gone! That stuff is amazing! My TV is covered with a trash bag and unplugged, and the floor is vacuumed quite nicely! It is hard to believe we are done. I know I say this every year at the end of the year, but it really is. It is harder for me to believe that I have completed my 5th year of teaching! Sheesh!

I have officially started my Children's coordinator position at the church. I don't really have much to do as it is all new. I have answered lots of email and listed to a lot of complaints/suggestions/words of wisdom. I really don't have rose colored glasses on...I am just trying to be positive and state the fact that I am doing this for the Lord and it is by His grace and mercy that I will be successful..not by myself. I know I have posted before about negative people, but I just have to say it again...THEY BOTHER ME! I am by no means, peppy positive all the time...but good night nurse...give it a rest! I was greeted on Monday by a "negitive Nancy" with this comment..."So, how'd you get suckered into that?" I had no idea what to say, so I said nothing! I would have liked to say something other than nothing, but thought better of it.

Moving on...

Danielle is in Boston for the rest of this week for training. She leaves next Tuesday for Denver. It is really hard to believe that the next time we'll see her is at Christmas. I am so happy for her though! Pray that she has a safe trip!

We leave SATURDAY for Disney....well Orlando, but I like to say Disney. We are so excited! The downside to the whole thing is that Clint will not be paid the entire week we are gone due to being "furlowed". BOO THIS ECONOMY! I suppose it could be worse! We thought we were going to be able to get unemployment for that week, but apparently since we will be out of town that means he is not "actively looking for work." So much for being honest. Oh well.

I think that is it for now. I am still thinking of a new blog title...any suggestions?

Check this out. You have to scroll down. http://nflchurch.com/NFBC/staff.htm

Until next time,
Sam