"You Light Up My Life" Sunday 5/31/09 edition

This person is a good husband to his wife.
This person is a great father.
This person is always up for a game of cards or a visit with family & friends.
He is a very hard worker.
He usually likes to make homemade ice cream whenever we all get together!
He has shown a tremendous strength & faith over the past several months when it was needed most by his family.
He is a lot of fun to be around.
This person has blessed me with 3 beautiful nieces!
He knows waaaay more about crops & farming than I will ever pretend to know :)
I have the utmost respect for this person, even though when I first met him he was dressed as a woman & seemed to be enjoying it very much :) (RELAX everyone~it was long before he had met my sister & it was a Halloween party!;)

So to my brother-in-law, Eric, here's to you~I love ya & I hope your b-day this past week was super! :)

Fine Dining!

Things Luke likes to eat that I would rather not:

1. Cat Food

2. Dirt/Sand

3. Rocks

4. Paper

What can I say? He enjoys the fine things in life :)

"Finally Friday!"

This song says it all! Enjoy! :)

"Running Record" Thursday

I came up with this name because a 'running record' is something that I do when reading with students to check for how well they are reading. I thought it was clever (but I am sure that I will be the only one :) since these posts would be about things that I have been reading. I am also hoping to come up with some kind of picture header too, however that will be all in good time.

Anyway, for the record this week I have books #'s 11, 12 & 13!

Book #11 was Project Mulberry by Linda Sue Park

This book was okay. I read it for the April meeting of my 4th grade book club. I liked how the dialogue was written, but the storyline was not one of my favorites. It is about a girl named Julie who is Korean & her best friend Patrick. They are trying to come up with a project that will get them to the state fair & it is decided that they will try to raise silkworms & make silk. The town they live in is mostly Caucasian & Julie already feels like her family sticks out too much so she is not exactly thrilled by this idea, but she goes along with it anyway. Julie & Patrick learn alot about each other, families & silkworms along the way.
I can say that even though I wasn't thrilled by this book-several of my students thought it was great so kids may judge it differently than I did :)

Book #12 was The Centurion's Wife by Davis Bunn & Janette Oke

I also thought that this book was just okay too. I liked the storyline, but just felt that it was too predictable. It is set in the weeks right after the death of Jesus. The story is about a woman named Leah who is a servant for Pontius Pilate's wife. She is sent to learn as much as she can about this man named Jesus & his followers for Pilate's wife. A marriage has also been arranged for her with a centurion named Alban who has been given the same mission by Pilate-both are unaware that they have been sent on similar missions.
This book was an easy read & predictable, but I did like trying to put myself into the shoes of Jesus's followers in those days after his death & 'seeing' what it might have been like.

Book #13 was Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling

I thought this book was fantastic & I couldn't even wait to borrow the next one from my sister-I had to check it out from the school library! :) I now see what all of the fuss was about back when these books were coming out & I think it helps that I actually felt like I was reading more of an "adult" level book. I noticed a big difference in how the books were written somewhere around Book#5. This book also did a great job of starting to pull some of the plots together from the first 5 books to get the stage set for the finale in Book #7, which will have to wait until the next "Running Record"....

I Have a Confession to Make...

I am in love with another man!!!

Does my husband know about this love affair?

Yes & he has actually been quite supportive in regards to my feelings about this man in the past.

Everytime my eyes glaze over & I drift into "gaga land", Scott just averts his eyes & shakes his head.

This man is humble, plain ole nice & has the smoothest voice I know-no wonder I love him :)

Who is this man?

GEORGE STRAIT!!!

Did anyone see the concert on TV last night? It was just a little slice of heaven in my book-listening to all of the fantastic songs, catching glimpses of George, hearing everyone's stories, catching glimpses of George, etc. It was fantastic & my husband was so supportive-he sat through the whole thing with me (my drool & all ;)

Of course, the love fest had to come to an end at some point & all though I couldn't be there in person-I know that George was probably thinking of me when he sang this song
Don't ya think? :)




Thanks George! (& Scott) ;)

Upcoming Attractions

I love blogging, but sometimes I feel like I am just caught in a rut when it comes to new ideas to write about or that I am constantly writing about the same topic for a whole bunch of posts in a row. So I have been thinking about this for awhile now & have decided to come up with some "theme days" here at Faith, Hope & Poop. I always loved these kind of days when I was in school & still do when the students have them at school nowadays. This does not mean that I won't get off track sometimes or that I may just choose to write about something else or in addition to it that particular day, but I think this will be a good way to change things up from day to day & hopefully get some "new" stuff mixed in too.
Of course, there will still be plenty of stories about "my guys" too-you need not feel like you will be missing out on anything interesting that goes on with the husband & my little busybody, Luke, because without them the Faith, Hope & Poop household would definitely not be nearly as interesting! :)

Here are some of the ideas that are floating around in my brain right now:

*"Light Up My Life" Sundays will be returning! I still have lots of very special people whom I haven't gotten to yet. Somewhere, somehow I got off track with it-we'll blame it on a month full of busy Sundays.
*"Running Record" Thursdays-I will keep you updated on the latest books I have been reading because I have read many more since I last wrote about it & can't wait to share about them, but I don't want it to be the world's longest blog post to catch you up!
*"Finally Friday!"-This will most likely be either a fun song or just something that I find humorous-so watch out, you never know what I might find to be amusing ;)
*"Wordless Wednesday" will continue when/if I have a photo that I just have to share-sometimes I think our photos just aren't that interesting to anyone but ourselves. So, unless I wanted to show you more of the same each week, which I don't. I am not going to do that just because maybe I'm supposed to show a photo that day.
*"Tuesday's Soapbox"-I am a person who analyzes everything & my brain has a very hard time stopping. I am also a person who likes to share her opinions with anyone who will listen, much to my husband's chagrin (because he gets to do much of the listening most of the time!) ;) Not sure why I am such an analyzer, but I am & I do also try to use it to analyze my own choices/beliefs/behaviors as well so I guess it is put to some good use too :)
*"Kitchen Cleaning" Saturdays-I admit that I am not much of a cook. What I mean by that is that I don't like cooking.
Can I cook? Yes
Can I cook well? Yes
I just don't like to do it!
Baking-now that is a totally different thing. I love it, but it isn't always so good for my waistline :)
I also know that I have tons of recipes/recipe books taking up residence in my cabinet because they sound so delicious & I will make them "someday".
Well, "someday" has arrived! My plan is to pick a 'new' recipe to try every so often & let you know what I think of it. If it is good, it will make it into the recipe box & if it is not so good or too time consuming/too much work, it will make it into the trash can & OUT of my cabinet!

These are some of the ideas that I have for right now, again, they are always subject to change at my whim or life in general because I can guarantee that if I have something just super-duper to write about that day, the "theme" of the day will probably fall by the wayside. Hopefully, though, I can finally say "blogger block be gone!" & always have somewhere to start from if I'm stuck!

Wordless Wednesday: "He put them on all by himself!"

It's official...

Summertime has begun because I have already lost track of what day it is!

It sure didn't take very long this year-now if the endless rain showers would just stop for awhile maybe it would actually feel more like summer :)

Changes...

Yep that's right! I'm changing things up again around here. Check out the new blog look & stay tuned for other changes coming up in the near future :)

Maybe he thinks he is a...

Cat!

The evidence:

*Every morning the first thing Luke does is run to the French doors, look at the cats' food pan & yell "Kitties, Kitties!" He then proceeds to go get a cup of cat food so that he can feed the kitties (with a little bit of help from us).

*While getting the food for the kitties, if he happens to get a couple of pieces of cat food for a snack for himself too-all the better :)

*We were all walking around the store last night, Luke was in his shopping cart & out of nowhere-he began to "meow" as loud as he could & yell "Kittycat" for all to hear.

*Playing in & with the cat food is one of his most favorite things to do-the evidence is spread all over my floor, in our shoes & anywhere else he can manage to dump out a full cup of the stuff.

*He has a new found interest in scratching people-does he think his fingers are claws??? :)

Hmmm...I will continue to investigate this phenomenon for awhile & hopefully it will pass quickly (especially the scratching/cat food throwing part!)

Yipppeeee!!!!!!!

Thanks Alice! I couldn't have said it better myself and I am going to try to enjoy every minute of it :)

The little stinker :)

Scott & I changed Luke's poopy diaper this evening. Yes, we do these diapers together when we can, not because we're incapable of doing it alone & not because we consider this a great family bonding activity, but because our son will stick his hands "down there" any chance he can get without any regard to what may come out stuck to those hands afterwards.
So...

I took his hands to hold & keep busy while Scott took the other end.
We knew it was poopy...
Scott undid the diaper...
"Oh crap" :) I said as one of Luke's hands broke free...
The hand went straight for that area and...
TWO LITTLE CHUNKS CAME FLYING OUT ONTO THE LIVING ROOM FLOOR!!!

Scott & I were both reacting with some version of "Oh yuck...Luke...Get it off the floor...[insert something similiar here]" untill we noticed that...

it was only CAT FOOD that Luke had managed to get stuck inside his outfit somehow :)

"Pheeewww!!!"

We dodged a bullet this time around ;)

Welcome to the World...

Carly Ann

Yep, that means I am an aunt again & it's another niece!
1 nephew & 5 nieces...
& hopefully in just a few more weeks, we'll be able to add another grandson to the mix to try to keep things somewhat balanced! :)

Will You Remember Me?

The following is my conversation with a student while taking their class on a bathroom break this afternoon.

Student: "Will you remember me next year?"
Me: "Of course I will, I could never forget you!"
Student: "Will you remember me in an hour?"
Me: "yeeesss..."
Student: "Will you remember me in a minute?"
Me: (now realizing that this kid is trying to pull a joke on me, but he doesn't realize that I know exactly how it goes :) "Yes!"
Student: "Knock, Knock"
Me: "Come on in Bobby*!"
Student: "Noooo, you're supposed to say 'Who's There?"
Me: "But I know it's you & I said that I would never forget you! You can't fool me :)"

A few minutes later...

Student: "Mrs. S"
Me: "Yes?"
Student: "I won't forget you."
Me: "Oh, thank you Bobby! That's very sweet!"
Student: "Yeah & when you die, I'll make sure to visit & decorate your grave."
Me: "Ummm...thanks...but I hope that won't be for a veeerrry long time yet."
Student: "Yeah me too."

*Name changed to protect this most thoughtful of students :)

Did I Know? or Was I in Denial?

There was a new movie out this weekend that you may have heard just a little bit of press about.

Scott is excited about it & would like to see it.

Did I know that he liked Star Trek?

Yes, I went to a movie or two with him while we were dating. I also watched several of the older movies on video with him. I knew that he owned several of the books & that he enjoyed watching several of the different Star Trek series back when we still had satellite (& were able to watch them on our TV).

I also know that he likes discussing this show/series with anyone who is also really into it or (who am I kidding) anyone who will at least pretend to listen ;)

But it wasn't until today, when I came home from school & saw him reading...

The Encyclopedia of Star Trek

that I realized I might have a legitimately true "Trekkie" on my hands!

Maybe I have been in denial...I wonder if he has any Spock ears lying around anywhere :)

"Happy" Mother's Day

I say "happy" because I have kind of a love/hate reaction to this holiday.

The hates...

*After suffering through four Mother's Days with infertility, it is one of those "special" days that is never very far from my mind in regards to how awful it felt inside to watch friends & family members celebrate being moms & celebrating their children (even though I was happy for them) when it was something I so desperately wanted, but couldn't seem to have. I also know that even though I now have those things-there are still others out there who don't & will be feeling these same things too today.

*Inevitably, when people talk about Mother's Day, it all comes back to how much mothers do for their children & the pain they go through for them, especially labor & delivery...hmmm...never did that-does this make me less of a mother?

*It is also a day where I am reminded of the fact that I would not be a mother without the exsistence of another mother who made a choice to let us raise her son so that he could be raised in a healthier, more stable, & loving family environment than she could have provided at the time. So if feels a little off to soak in all of the "Happy Mother's Days" thrown my way & not at least be able to also acknowledge the fact that my role came into being because of another mother's sacrifice.

The loves...

*Luke & of course, the fact that because of him & another mother's decision, I AM now a mother who is able to love this child just as much as I always knew was possible.

*I feel blessed knowing that if all goes as planned, I may possibly have the chance very soon to be a mother again to another little one!

*Being able to still pour some love on my nieces & nephew in the "aunt" role that was (& still is) soooo important to me during the hard times of IF.

*Getting to share time with our mothers & my grandma to thank them for all of the things they have done for us through the years (& not just laber/delivery :) & to thank them for always sticking by us even at times when we may have made it tough on them!

So to all of you mothers, birthmothers, mothers awaiting the arrival of a little one soon, women hoping/waiting to have a chance at motherhood someday &/or women who have a child in their life who means the world to them whether they're related or not~know that you are not forgotten here in the Faith, Hope & Poop household today & in my book we're all mothers in one way or another! Happy Mother's Day!

Some Beach

Lately, my body has been yearning for the beach. I love the sound of the ocean & the feel of the sand between my toes, but it is looking like it is going to be quite awhile before I can make it to one anytime soon given all of the changes we hope will be taking place & the fact that I'm stuck in the middle of Illinois & many, many hours from the nearest ocean :(

However, I heard this song the other day & realized I had forgotten just HOW much I like this song! Maybe it's all the singing about the beach, maybe it's the fact that it is saying what I have been feeling alot of lately, or maybe it's just the fact that you can sing it & feel like you are cussing without ever saying a bad word ;) Yep, it's most likely that last one, since I love stuff like that :)

Enjoy!

Words That Can Make Anything Funny...

I was "subbing" for a class today while some of my coworkers were testing a few of the students' end of the year reading skills. The class was watching a movie & kept telling me that a really funny/their favorite part was coming. When it finally arrived, the whole class burst out laughing because of ONE word...

Underwear!

This got me to thinking about other words that elementary (mostly k-2) kids will always laugh at if it appears in a movie/cartoon or book. Here are just a few of the "best" ones.

#1 of course is the one I have already mentioned
#2 "butt" which can also be a 'bad' word or a 'shocker' if you ask them to use "but" in their writing :)
#3 any word that either sounds similar to or could be used as a "bad" word (ex: stupid, dumb, idiot, etc)

Are you sensing a bit of a theme? Anything that sounds like something that they think they shouldn't/aren't allowed to say, is absolutely hilarious when they hear it in an "okay" setting? They must think that they are getting away with something...hmmm...they just might be :)

Countdown Mode!

As I stated in my last post, May is finally here & with its coming, so have the countdowns! :)

2 1/2 more weeks of school
4 weeks until baby's due date
and to top it all off-this Sunday is Mother's Day!

Am I ready for any of these things yet?

N-O!

I have been in full fledged procrastination mode/slight forgetfulness mode (aka-shouldn't Mother's Day still be another week away?!) so I need to get myself in gear.

Lists need to be made!
Things need to be washed/cleaned up!
Final lessons need to be planned!
And the thought of all of this stuff leaves me wishing that I could also schedule a mini-getaway on some secluded beach somewhere before tackling it all, but who am I kidding? I would then have to add packing to the list & I definitely don't need that stress too! :)

Where Have I Been?

Ummm...absolutely nowhere!

Did I intend to leave you, my dear readers, high & dry?

Ummm...absolutely not!

So, what happened?

Honestly, I'm not really sure, but over a whole week has gone by & there has been nothing reported here at Faith, Hope & Poop? by me your ungracious hostess & for that I offer my sincere apologies.

For your reading pleasure-a quick recap of the major highlights of the past week.

*On Thursday, the students were fairly wound up all day long for seemingly no apparent reason. Those of us who were working with them contemplated the usual theories-full moon, weather changing, etc-when all of a sudden it hit me! It was "May Eve" meaning the next day was May 1st & the most exciting thing about May around school is the fact that school will be out soon!

*I had a job interview for a teaching position. I felt really good after my interview-that I had done my best & didn't really have any questions that I was second guessing myself about-& a few days later found out that I did not get the 2nd interview I was hoping for :(
However, I can tell that I have become much more confident in my teaching abilities & interviewing skills than I was a couple of years ago or even last year at this same time so I am hoping that one of these days I will no longer be just an "excellent candidate" who does a great interview but the "best" person for the job!

*Rain, Rain & more Rain! It has definitely not made for a motivating week!

*I finally finished the Harry Potter series! I have to admit I finally really got sucked in around Book #5 & it's been hard to put them down ever since. I have been borrowing them from my sister, Beth, & had just finished #6 about a week & a half ago. The prospect of waiting a couple of weeks to get #7 until I saw her again seemed almost unbearable so I checked it out of the school library! Lucky for me I am now finished with it because it needs to be back by Wednesday & maybe I can finally get around to writing some more posts! :)

I could go on & on, but these are probably the majorest (i like inventing words like this one :) events of the week & here's to better content as the week unfolds!