Independence Day and Amazing Helpers

Happy Independence Day!

My Great Aunt and cousins invited me for lunch for brisket and the fixings.  The food was great and the company was wonderful!

My BFF's husband and son came over to help me with my yard.  I can do the mowing.  I have run a mower since I was 7, but I need help with weed eating, trimming trees and shrubs, and hauling off junk and trash.  Her awesome husband tackled the weed eating and mowing a strip of land I have behind my back fence while her son and I trimmed shrubs and cleaned up junk/trash and then hauled trash can after trash can to the curb.

For the first time, we saw a snake.  I'm so glad her husband was here when it slithered out and to the yard behind us.  (It is hard to see.)

Her son and I watched a crawdad/crayfish in the far back yard while her husband cut that strip of land.  I have seen their little houses/holes my whole life, but I have never seen an actual critter back there.  Well, we got one to come out of the hole and played with it.

I will forever be grateful to Tim and Connor Culmo for all their help today. They didn't have to, but they did.  They have no idea what it means to me.

I ended the day with my BFF and her family. Her mom invited me over for BBQ and fireworks.  I had such a nice time. I am so thankful to them for including me.  It really means so much to me. (I am not thankful for the chigger and mosquito bites.  Ha ha!)

To My Blog Readers

To My Blog Readers,

I don't know who you are, but I know you exist.  I also know my blog is not the most entertaining, but I greatly appreciate you and thank you for reading my rambling.  Feel free to comment or ask questions.

Sincerely,
Dr. K

Bronze Award Project

Our January 25th meeting was all business.  We don't like to do an "all business" meeting, but we had to have discussions that needed to lead to a decision and then planning for the Bronze Aware project/award.  The girls had created a list of ideas a few months ago.  Last night, we broke them into two groups.  Each group was asked to narrow the choices down to their top three.  Once both groups had three, we discussed them and then narrowed them down to one.  Both groups chose two that were the same and then each had a different one.  After discussing projects other local troops have done and some future projects, the girls decided to make bags/baskets for church shut-ins for four holidays between now and the end of May.  They chose Valentine's Day, a Girl Scouts themed one to deliver on Girl Scout Sunday, Easter, and Spring.  Once they had their concept and four holidays, they brainstormed a list of items to give elderly church members for each theme.  J and I bought the items for the Valentine's gifts based on their lists and a few things we know about the church members.  The girls will spend the February 1st meeting putting things together.

Merry Christmas!

This Christmas has had me thinking, remembering, and feeling grateful.
I have been blessed to wake up in the same house every Christmas morning since birth. For some, that may seem weird. To me, it is wonderful.

Most of my life, we spent Christmas Eve with my mom's side of the family at Granny and Grandpa's house.  We enjoyed sandwiches, chips/dips, and pie before opening presents.  I remember when my brother, cousins, and I were the little ones who just couldn't wait to open presents.  I have been blessed to enjoy the same traditions with my niece, nephew, and little cousins.  They were just like us, lying under the tree wishing and hoping it was time. My great aunt and uncle would come over to be with us too.  I don't know when this tradition started, but it seems that we always did it.  It continued until about 5-10 years ago when had to do it the weekend before with my cousins b/c they wouldn't be here. Now, if we get together on Christmas Eve, which we always do with Granny at least, you never really know who will be there or for how long, but we still try to keep this tradition going as long as Granny is with us.

From birth until upper elementary school or middle school, we would open presents at home on Christmas morning before walking next door to have breakfast and open gifts with my neighbors and another family we were very close to for much of my life. We continued this tradition for one year after my neighbors moved to a neighboring town, and then we stopped.

We would come back home to choose a new outfit to wear and then head to Granny and Grandpa's for Christmas lunch. At some point, probably after my grandfather passed away, we moved lunch to my house.  We would have as many as 16 or more enjoying lunch and conversation.

After my brother got married and had children, we continued our traditions, but we would start Christmas morning at their house for the kids to open presents.  They would come back to our house to open presents with us and then stay the rest of the day for lunch and dinner.

As we were entering this holiday season, I had no idea what we would do for Christmas.  My brother and sister-in-law moved 5 hours away.  My mom has all but moved in with Granny to take care of her.  This was going to be my first Christmas waking up on Christmas morning alone. My first Christmas morning without my niece and nephew. Mom decided she was going to be with the kids no matter what, so she was going to drive the 5 hours to be with them on Christmas Day.  She said Granny and I could go with her or stay home.  Well, I was a little worried about Granny riding 5 hours down and then 5 hours back all in one day, so I was willing to stay home, but it was what Mom wanted.  I had gotten my mind set for this and ready for a different kind of Christmas.  It really didn't matter where we were as long as we were together.  Right? Well, God had different plans.

After telling my brother and sister-in-law about my great uncle's passing, they decided to come home to visit and go to the funeral.  After the services, they headed to Oklahoma to be with her family while they celebrated over the weekend. They are supposed to come home for Christmas Eve and wake up to celebrate with us on Christmas morning.  We don't have to make Granny travel 10 hours in one day. My niece, nephew, and I get to wake up in the home we know. God is wonderful!  I know there will come a day that I may live somewhere else, and a day that I may not even get to see my niece and nephew on Christmas Day, but this Christmas is not that time, and I am oh, so very blessed and grateful!

I was so excited when they drove in the driveway on Friday night!


Another tradition we have in our family is the Advent Calendar, which Granny made when I was tiny, each piece handmade and sequined, involves hanging the ornaments on the tree. I am so glad the kids were here to get it caught up to date.  The first 7 were hung by a set of Girl Scout sisters at our December meeting. I just left it alone the rest of the month.



I can't wait for them to get home tonight for Christmas Eve! I am so blessed.

Mom, Granny, and I got together for sandwiches, chips, and dips for lunch with my aunt and cousin yesterday.  I truly enjoyed that time.

My life has changed dramatically in the last 10 months, but God knows what I need, so He provides as only He can.  Thank you, Lord, for sending Jesus to be born in a manage all those years ago, and thank you for all you do for my family and me!
 

Merry Christmas, everyone!

I Am Thankful!

Each day of the month of November, friends posted what they were thankful for over on Facebook.  I chose not to participate this year because I wanted to wait until the end of the month and create one post.  Well, I missed writing yesterday, so I wanted to do it today.  My list is in no particular order.

I am thankful for . . .

-God, who sent Jesus to be born in a manger and then gave His only begotten son to forgive me for my sins, and who makes all things possible, gives us nature, opportunities, and more.

-my mother, the strongest woman I know.  She has endured so much, gives of herself, and works herself 'til exhaustion taking care of others.  Oh, how I love her and am in awe of her.

-my dearest and best friends, J & R.  I can share everything with these two ladies, and I know they will keep my words, thoughts, and feelings completely private. They always know exactly what to say to help me get through everything.  They are Godly, amazing women, and I am so unbelievably grateful for them and their friendship.

-my brother and sister-in-law, who allowed me to be a very hands-on Auntie for 10.5 years.  Gosh, how I love my niece and nephew!  There are no words to explain how much it meant to me to be a part of their daily lives.  I truly treasured every moment, every experience I shared with them. They made me smile, filled my days with joy, and taught me so much.

-my Granny and late Grandpa, who were at every important function in my life, who supported and loved me through it all.

-the two wonderful ladies I share an office with at work, J & P.  They help me solve problems, think through ideas, and to be the best Instructional Specialist I can be all while working within the parameters set before us. I am thankful they put up with my craziness.

-the other Instructional Specialists, Facilitators, and Coordinators I work with and have gotten to know. They support me and believe in me when I don't believe in myself.

-Richardson and Texas Jaycees.  The Richardson Jaycees, my aunt, and cousin honored me by nominating me as one of the Five Outstanding Young Texans in 2011.  The Texas Jaycees chose me as one of these FOYT for my work as an educator.  I was so overwhelmed with such an honor, and I am not sure I showed my appreciation to the depth that I am honored.  While I was being chosen and named, I was being forced to make a professional decision that left me looking for a job.  The weekend I was being honored with a fabulous ceremony, I had no job as an educator, for which was the main reason I was nominated. There are no words to describe how appreciative I am of this fabulous award.

-my friends and co-workers at the school where I taught for 10 years and other friends within that district.  I chose to leave the classroom and the district for a central administration position, which I had for 3 years, in another local district.  I loved this experience and meeting the people in this new district.  With statewide budget cuts, I had to make a decision in the spring of 2011.  These amazing former co-workers were my connection to getting a job back in my former district that fall.  The friends that I met and worked with during those 10 years cannot be matched.  I will treasure their friendship always.

-that I have a job, which gives me an income to have a car, home, food, and more.

-my aunts, uncles, cousins, and other family.  They are always there when I need them.

-the pastor of the church where I have been visiting.  She has been so welcoming and friendly.

-my Girl Scout troop, which has given me something to focus my time and energy on during this very crazy year.  It is also a time I get to spend with my niece, which I treasure. My co-leader is pretty fabulous too!  Couldn't do it without her!

I know people will see this and think, "Why didn't she mention me?" or "Why didn't she mention so and so or such and such?"  I know that my list could go on and on and on.  There are so many people, experiences, and things I am thankful for these days.  As sure as I post this, I will think of something else.  Who knows?  Maybe I will just keep coming back to this post and updating it.