10 things I Hear Monday and Friday

These are things I either hear in my office or when I have a class.
1. The hum of the pop machines.
2. The bubble from the water cooler as somebody fills their cup.
3. Somebody flushing the staff bathroom toilet.
4. The constant run of water from the toilet mentioned before (nobody taught them that if you jiggle the handle it will stop).
5. "You're mean" because I won't listen to them tattle tale.
6. "Rumor is....is it true?"
7. The fridge kicking on and off.
8. 5 different conversations while the staff is at lunch.
9. 200 students eating lunch on the other side of the wall.
10. Miss....um, I forgot your name.

Chocolate just didn't work

Have you ever had a day where you just needed a pick-me-up and chocolate wouldn't do the trick. I've had a few lately with all the bits and pieces of my life creating a very busy and mentally/emotionally exhausting time.

Well, God being the awesome Father that He is, provided the pick-me-up that totally turned my spirit around yesterday. I love how He knows exactly what we need and provides it, often, even when we don't ask!

My friend Daniel called me last night. I love talking to him because I don't have to worry about what I say, all is fair game. He always seems to know the right thing to say and usually it doesn't even come close to being something serious. They say that laughter is the best medicine and I would totally believe it. I miss his conversations a lot and miss him even more. He was one of those friends you could sit with and have conversations without even talking, not to mention he would gleefully and willingly watch chick flicks with me, no complaints.

He's one of those friends that when they get married you say that she is totally blessed! So thankfully he has found a wife that is up to the challenge and recognizes the blessing.

It's been a while

Oh, what a wonderful trip I had for Thanksgiving! I had a great weekend in Whitefish with Cameron (we watched almost the whole 5th season of Smallville in 2 days), Barbara, and Scott before taking the train to Oregon on Sunday night. The train ride in itself was an experience. Let's just say there wasn't much sleeping from Whitefish to Spokane because of a unknown person who is experienced with silent but deadly. All in all, not a bad experience, even a possibility of doing it again sometime.

Spending the week with my family was absolutely, positively a good time. I got to see my little sis, Genna, and brother-in-law, Troy, who was home so he could do recruiter's assistance. I also got to spend quite a bit of time with my nephews and older sis, Lauren. The boys are growing so fast it's hard to believe. For Thanksgiving we had a huge group together for lunch and just all around fun. It gave me a chance to see aunts and uncles as well as my grandma Betty and grandpa Doyle. A time of laughter, catching up, and meeting a new cousin. Hannah is a 5-month-old girl that LaDonna and Bruce have taken as foster parents and are working on an adoption. She is the cutest and happiest baby! She just steals your heart right away. But, best of all I got to spend quite a bit of time with my Mama! I miss her dearly and cherish the little snippets of time that I do get to be with her.

Coming home I rode with Betty and John Dustin. We drove all day Saturday and made it to Whitefish around 11pm. It was a wonderful chance to spend lots of time with them and see the country side, that gradually turned to snow. Sunday I went to church with Betty, ate lunch with the family and jumped in my own truck for a trek that took a little over 5 hours to get home. The roads were pure ice and anytime a car passed either way you were blinded by snow.

Arriving home I had about 8 inches of snow in the yard because of how the wind blows it from my neighbors and it stays in mine. I wasn't anticipating having to shovel it. Being so blessed by God, I pulled up and my landlord had already done it for me! What a pleasant way to end a wonderful trip.

Aye, Yaye, Yaye

Aye, Yaye, Yaye...okay, so that isn't really how it should be spelled but it's after 10 and my brain quits working after 4 and I had to work till 9 so you can do the math, it went 5 hours overtime tonight. Sooo, in other words I really don't care how it is supposed to be spelled. :) Good thing it's my blog so I don't have to worry about it, sorry Susie, I know how much you hate misspelled words and bad punctuation.

The next couple of weeks are going to be crazy, starting with yesterday. Today was an excellent day at school, no major student problems, and that is big considering I was at Whittier today. After that I went to work at Stageline and got a little bit of extra time in...a little bummed that Duke's football group didn't call in. It's hard to play with an order if they don't place one ;)~

Tomorrow, Wednesday, and Thursday I have P/T conferences...wait a minute let me rephrase that...I have to sit for a total of 7.5 hours and do a whole lot of cleaning and arranging my offices because parents don't usually come see me. Each night after those I have to clean my house and do laundry...well, at least laundry, I'm not sure about the cleaning after doing so much at school.

Here comes the best part of the busy 2 weeks. Friday right after school I'm driving to Whitefish, hanging out there until Sunday night and then taking the train to Portland, Oregon. Hopefully Cameron will be accompanying me (we are praying for a heavy snow in WF) for the 14 hour ride because, you know me, I hate talking to strangers, so instead I put my face in a book and that's a long way to read. Thankfully it will be at night so I should be able to sleep a bit too.

Upon arrival in Portland I will be picked up and have dinner with my family and the Dustins at Papa's Pizza. This part I am soooo excited about for several reasons...1)I get to see my family, 2)My family has added a cousin since I saw them last, 3)My family will get to meet the people who put up with me when I don't get to go home, 4)Papa's Pizza!

So to make a short story long...it will be a while before I get to blog again but will fill you in when I get back to Great Falls. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!!!

Prayer Request

Whitefish or not?

I know that wouldn't even be a question for some, however, it is for me. I love Great Falls, the church, my friends, my job, and the life I have here. I am also in love with Whitefish and my new friends there. Some opportunities have opened up and the families there keep asking when I'm going to move. It is in my heart but I need your prayers to make sure it is the right move and not just me wanting to. It's kind of scary for me to make that choice. To think I came to Montana without a doubt in my mind and no second guessing, that was so much bigger; leaving my family for the first time, being on my own, moving 860 miles away from everything I knew. I think the part that really scares me with this possible move is I now have my career that I love and I'm tenured, I didn't have that before.