What a Week! (Work, Gossip, & Best Friends)

What a week. I am sure we all say that every now and then. I would venture to say that teachers and educators might use that phrase more than others. When I say, "If you only knew what goes on in the span of a school day", I wish I had some way of really making you understand that phrase too. All I can say is that the teachers in your children's lives work so hard every day. They spend more time with your children than their own, and love them all. I am proud to be part of education, because if you put aside the government politics and the blame game, the bottom line is that I make a difference in the lives of children. I get to teach them how to read. I can help them smile when they've had a bad morning at home. I can help them realize their potential. What more of a reward could I ask for in a job?

Moving away from the work topic...How do you all handle people that are nice to you in person but completely turn on you (with words) to others? I am aware of a couple of people in my life that I thought were friends or at least close acquaintances, that have had some pretty mean things to say about me. I sure would appreciate anyone that has a concern with me to bring it to my attention rather than spreading gossip. Lord knows, we all slip up in the area of gossip, and I don't exempt myself from it. However, to make opinionated, false statements and even bring up my job & kids....come on. If you watch Good Luck, Charlie, think of the "Mama Bear" episode, and that would be me. Ha ha. Don't mess with my kids! In this case, I will not do the drama thing and I am just going to let it go; which is not easy if you know me and my Gallops temper! I can forgive, but will never forget. Have any of you faced things like this? What are your thoughts?


On a lighter, happier note, I got to see my best friend do what she does best, or at least one of the things she does best...SING and perform in 9 to 5 at the Springer. I am so thankful for the friend God gave me all those years ago as a frizzy haired fourth grader. She has been with me through the absolute best and worst of times and I love her dearly. She has a wonderful, sweet family and though we don't get to hang out as often as I'd like, every time we do it's like we were never apart! Here we are this past Christmas.

I hope everyone has a great work week. In between work, dance, football, and other mom stuff, I hope I can get in a good run or two. All of you doing boot camp, crossfit, and other great programs...I am envious!  ;-)

Love Always,

Dancing, Laughing, Celebrating...

We celebrated our sweet Emma Grace's 7th birthday Friday and Saturday. She had been planning and looking forward to her first girls' sleepover for weeks. The day arrived and my house was filled with 10 giggly girls ready to party the night away. I didn't need much to entertain them. As soon as the music played, dancing took over the night. They had dance offs, played freeze dance, made a hip hop circle, and even had the energy to play Just Dance on the Wii. The smiles and laughs heard over the night were worth every moment of planning. One little one said, "This is the best night ever!" That made my night. I don't think Emma will ever forget this birthday. To everyone who came and helped celebrate, I can't thank you enough. She had an absolutely wonderful time! Here are a few glimpses of the night...

And...poor big brother...!

Overwhelmed

Tonight/This Morning/Whatever Time It Is…

I am overwhelmed. When did my baby grow up? I am the mother of a middle schooler, which sounds CrAzY to me! There are so many things that are different about him. He is not as "in to" school as he used to be. Homework time is torture time, for Cole and for me. The past two nights, we have been up late battling it out, to the point where we BOTH cried sobbed. This is definitely uncharted territory. Yikes!  I am busier than ever with work ,where more and more gets added to my agenda. Not to mention that my position probably won’t be funded next year. Yep, the ailing economy impacts special intervention programs too. Between work, kids and Emma Grace's dance classes, most days I feel accomplished if we get homework done and lunches made for the next day.

My house is far from spotless and I am not getting enough sleep. I am alone quite often because I am married to a fireman who heads to the woods every chance he gets. I have no time to maintain friendships and suffer from pretty intense anxiety.

Sometimes, I beat myself up comparing myself with friends who seem to have it all together...at least according to their Facebook, Instagram, or Blog page. I find myself thinking "If only I could be like... then I would be a great... mom... wife...teacher... volunteer". I hope I am not the only one who does this.

I know I shouldn't compare myself to others, but it is so hard not to. I reflect on 2^nd Corinthians 5:21 “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

This verse helps me realize that in Jesus I am already covered and seen as perfect…forever. I mess up every.single.day. In my mess, I know I need His covering. So, I don’t have to cover up my junk. I have arguments with my 11 year old, I have laundry piles bigger than the baskets hold, I get upset with my hubby more than I should, and my kids fight waaaaaaaaay too much. There is little to zero time to clean, and I have basically given up on working out. That’s just to name a few.

On a positive note, Emma Grace will be 7 years old on September 13, and I am planning an awesome dance themed sleepover for her that weekend. Cole is excited about being a part of Ignite, the middle school group at church. Being a mom is the most amazing, painful, emotional, and beautiful thing I have ever done. I just hope I am ready for the road ahead…

I want to be real, and I want to be transparent. Hope you all don’t mind me pouring my heart out just a little bit…maybe it will help me sleep better. 

There is more mercy in Christ than sin in us. ~Richard Sibbes

See...told ya!