Weekend Retreat and a Snow Day

This weekend I went on a women's retreat with my church in Buena Vista. It was a great retreat and the scenery there was gorgeous! It totally reminded me of how amazing God is to have imagined and created so much beauty! The pictures below don't really do justice to the mountains. The snowcaps blend in with the sky. But just to give you an idea where I was ...

(This isn't me ... It's my friend, S.)

I got home Sunday just in time to catch a few of the basketball games before yoga. My teams aren't doing so well. My only comfort is knowing that I'm beating my husband!! :) While I was at yoga, it started thundering and what I assumed was rain at the time began falling on the roof of the studio. It sounded very cool (quite the appropriate background music for a yoga class). When I got out to the car, though, I noticed that it wasn't rain that I had heard, but more like sleet, which eventually became snow. The next morning, I came back from my before-school workout to a surprise message on the answering maching telling me there was no school -- we had a snow day! Hooray! The best thing was that it was only 6:00, and I was already wide awake, so I had the whole day ahead of me! I always love days off of work because I can watch the news in the morning along with "Regis and Kelly" and "The View." Very relaxing!

This work-week will definitely be a short one! Friday I am taking off to leave for Spring Break with my family in Michigan. I'm so excited! March is really flying by!

The Draft

No, I don't mean the military. I'm talking about MARCH MADNESS!!!

Ok, so I'm not a huge college basketball fan. I never watch a game during the regular season. But I always fill out a bracket to make the NCAA tournament exciting (especially after living with a man who watches ESPN 24/7). This year, I filled in my brackets as usual -- one for the "Hall Boy" pool and one for the pool at work. But I also got to do something a little different.

Tonight, one of the women I work with had a draft for a bunch of us girls at work. (I've never done anything like this before!) We all got together at her house, had drinks and appetizers, and drafted teams for the tournament along with individual players for a "fantasy team." Each of us picked 8 different teams and we get paid according to how far they advance in the tournament. For the individual picks, we earn points according to the number of points our players score throughout the tournament.

It was sooooo much fun! I can't wait to see how all of my picks do!

What a Shame ...

Today I sent out progress reports for all of my students who have D's and F's. I used to stress out about this a lot -- I think it's the "First-Born" in me coming out. I always wonder why some kids don't feel the desire or motivation to work hard to reach their potential. What a waste! I mean, I was always working as hard as I could -- never settling for a lower grade when I knew it was possible to get an A. My parents didn't pressure me, I was just intrinsically motivated (okay, maybe more like obsessive). Plus, I just thought that everyone got A's and B's, except for those token slackers who ended up with C's. (That was just my messed up perception of things, though, so if you are someone that got a C -- I don't still believe that you were necessarily a slacker!)

The thing is -- most of the grades that I give out are C's. I give out lots of B's and D's. But only a few A's. (Two, actually, out of 120 kids this quarter). I never realized how many low grades that teachers give out until I became one! Still, every once in a while I stress out about those kids who continually get D's and F's. What is their problem? Can't they just be a liiiiiitle motivated?

Anyways, today as I was addressing envelopes to send home, I had a little chance to think about each kid whose report I was mailing. Most of the addresses I almost know by heart now. The thing is -- I love these kids. I really really do. Most of the time, I am just so angry at their parents! So many of my D and F kids are totally screwed up because of their parents. I mean, seriously messed up -- sick things have happened to some of these kids. Others don't have totally tragic home lives -- just parents that don't seem to care.

Now, I hear all the time how hard it is being a parent, and I totally believe it. Believe me, I'm not arguing that parenting is easy by any means. But if you are going to have kids -- AT LEAST TAKE GOOD CARE OF THEM! Love on them, discipline them at least a little, make sure they have a pencil when they come to school, make sure they COME to school ... I mean, can parenting be THAT hard that you can't even make your child go to school? It's just such a shame! These kids whose lives are going nowhere, no matter what their teachers do!! It's just so discouraging sometimes. If I wasn't so non-confrontational, I might even give a few of these lousy parents a piece of my mind!

Instead, though, I'm resigned to just try and love on their kid for the 60 minutes I see them each day, hoping that somehow I can make up a little bit for the crappy life they have at home. What a shame ...

The Trouble With Barnes and Noble

I LOOOOOVVVVEEE going to Barnes and Noble! There is nothing like being surrounded by thousands of new books! But each time I walk in there, I'm presented with a distressing dilemma -- which book to buy! I don't like to buy more than one at a time usually, because one of my favorite things is finishing one book and going back to the bookstore to find another one. (I know that my husband is reading this right now and thinking, "I can't believe that I married such a bookworm!") Today I settled on Oprah's newest pick: Night by Elie Weisel. It is a nonfiction book about a man's experience in concentration camps. I'm already about halfway through it. But since I had to leave some others behind, I decided to start a list of books that I want to read next...

Books I Want to Read

The Plot Against America by Philip Roth

The Known World by Edward P. Jones

Forever by Pete Hamill

Vanishing Acts by Jodi Picoult

Wicked by Gregory Maguire

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger

The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

A Rose for the Crown by Anne Easter Smith


And in case you are a reader like me, I thought I'd also share some of the books that I've really loved!

Books I've Loved

The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown

Angels and Demons by Dan Brown

Plain Truth by Jodi Picoult

The Pact by Jodi Picoult

My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult

The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory

The Pilot's Wife by Anita Shreve

Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers

The "Mark of the Lion" Series by Francine Rivers

The Red Tent by Anita Diamant

Cane River by Lalita Tademy

The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver

A Perfect Weekend

So after a few kind of lousy, lonely weekends, this one was perfect!

On Friday night I went out with two of Jon's good friends from West Point, Dan ... aka "Danimal," and Barry. Dan was Jon's roomate for two years and became a great friend to both of us. He actually bought the townhome right across from ours and rented a room out to Barry, so they were also our neighbors for two years before Dan left for Korea and Barry left for a second tour to Iraq. Both just returned and it was so great to catch up with them! To be honest, I was a little nervous to go out with them without Jon, but they were just so fantastic and we had great conversation!

Saturday was the most relaxing day I've had in a LOOOONG time. Despite my ambitious "to do" list, my booty hardly left the couch all day except to go the bathroom! I literally rolled out of bed and into some sweats, layed on the couch, and finished watching the final season of Felicity. Then I fooled around with my iPod, took a long bubble bath, and made a quick trip to Target for a new bathroom scale (I didn't like what our old one was saying!) I ended the day all cozied up in bed, watching "Blue Collar Comedy Tour Rides Again." If you have never seen the Blue Collar Comedy DVD's you are TOTALLY missing out! They are hilarious. On Wednesday night at Bible Study, we talked about how we run ourselves ragged trying to stay busy, and how perpetual activity is not God's will for our lives. That is so right! A day of total rest is exactly what I needed to feel refreshed and ready to start my next week!

I also got to talk to Jon on Saturday. We had a great conversation! I am still on cloud nine from it! Anyone who has been through a long distance relationship can tell you that not every phone conversation is as wonderful as you would like it to be. There are so many expectations associated with talking to the one you love on the phone -- especially when it's only once or twice a week! But this one was just perfect. I just love the man that I married. He is such a good husband to me! I know I've said it before, but I'm just so proud to be his wife!! To think that I used to sit in front of him in math class in 6th grade -- he was such an immature little twerp! But he's grown into such a responsible, honorable, and loving man! (I hope I'm not making any of you nauseous -- but it's just how I feel!)

So anyways -- back to the weekend. Today was actually a bit more productive than yesterday, but not by much. I got up early, worked out, and went to church. After church I stopped at one of my FAVORITE places -- Barnes and Noble!! Sometimes there is no better place to be than in a big comfy chair, with a latte and a bunch of new books. On my way home it started to snow. I got my hopes up for like two seconds that we wouldn't have school tomorrow, but alas, nothing stuck. I made my way to yoga class, which is always a great way to start the week, and then got home just in time for a good cry with "Extreme Home Makeover."

My cup runneth over ...

No More Complaints

I will never complain again about doing my grocery shopping at the Commissary.

I just got home from Walmart ... UGGGHHH!!

Other than the occasional dash into the corner grocery for something I desperately need, I never buy our groceries anywhere except for the commissary. Everywhere else is just too dang expensive. I have been known to complain sometimes about the poor quality of the commissary's produce, the long lines, and the NARROW aisles. However, today I had to stop at Walmart after school to look for a fake nose ring, which is totally wierd in itself -- I have to dress up like a rock star tomorrow for school (who knows -- maybe I'll even post a few pictures). So anyway -- I thought that instead of making another trip to the store, I would just buy my groceries there. What a zoo!

Although you get at least an extra two feet of aisle space, it's totally not worth it. The prices (although probably low for the civilian world) are still more expensive than the commissary. Shoppers don't have any aisle ettiquette -- no one seems to understand the flow of traffic. The lines are SOOOOO LONG, there is nowhere to park, ... basically I just really didn't like it. :)

So from now on, no more complaints about our dear little commissary.

While I'm Being Sappy ...

Ok, so as long as I'm being so sentimental -- I wanted to share this poem that I found in Chicken Soup for the Military Wife's Soul. Not everything in it relates to us at this point in our lives. But I thought it was so beautiful and poignant. It's written by a woman named Donna Porter...

You Didn't Tell Me

You told me about the long shifts, the days and nights.

You told me about the commanders and their lovely wives.

You told me about the chain of command, and how I would live by it.

But you didn't tell me how proud of you I would be.

You told me about the temporary duty and the many moves.

You told me about the overseas tours.

You told me about payday and how we would stretch the dollar.

You didn't tell me abou the honor I would feel.

You told me about the wives' clubs and family support.

You told me about Tricare.

You told me about base housing, and how no two are alike.

You didn't tell me that at the start of "God Bless the USA" I would shed not one, but many tears.

You told me about how Christmas would be in Germany.

You told me about the commissary and PX.

You told me we would need many sets of curtains.

You didn't tell me how our children would look up to you, and want to be like Dad.

You told me about the hard times and how we would have many.

You told me abou the stress of being a military spouse.

You told me sometimes I would be a single parent, and that in spirit you would be with me.

But you didn't tell me that when I saw your uniform in the laundry, I would swell with respect.

You didn't tell me how much of a part the military would play in our lives and how I would never want it any other way!

Sappy Saturday

So -- today I started crying in Starbucks. How TOTALLY embarrassing! It was a beautiful day and it's been a great week. I sat in a table by the window, with my nonfat caffe' mocha (which I've become a little addicted to over the past few weeks), feeling the warm sun on my skin and looking out at the gorgeous mountains while I did my bible study. Maybe I was just tired, I don't know. But the tears just started coming.

I just kept thinking about how much I wished that Jon was here. Then I started thinking about how the reason I'm living here right now is to be with Jon -- and he's not even here. Now don't get me wrong -- I would follow this man to the ends of the earth. He is the love of my life. And it's not like I don't appreciate the beauty of this state and all that it has to offer. But what I would give to be living around family right now -- people that I love and who love me!!! I mean, the only reason that I'm still here while Jon is gone is because I have a job with 120 kids counting on me everyday.

Then I started thinking about the different ways our life could be changing in the next year. Some of you know that we are waiting to hear about a career change for Jon within the Army. Ultimately, this will determine whether or not we will stay in the Army. Now, until this year, I've been pretty gung-ho about being a "lifer." But now, everyday it seems that I go back and forth. One day I really want Jon to be able to take advantage of this opportunity -- I know it's something he really wants and he would be really good at. And it would be a new adventure for us. Plus we would have the security of the Army. And we still have so many things we want to do in the Army -- places we want to go -- things we want to experience. Then the next day I wonder if this is the life I really want for the next 16 years. Do I really want to be apart from my husband for probably half of that time? Will it be worth it? Do I want to voluntarily be a "single mom" once kids come and Jon is deployed? My comfort comes in knowing that the LORD already has things planned for us. He knows what's best for us and He'll make whatever that is happen -- despite all my worrying.

So after a short drive home and a few more tears, I decided it was time to stop feeling sorry for myself. And I did what every neurotic women does when they're feeling a little down -- cleaned my house! Then I lighted my tart burner and popped in a Macintosh Peach candle -- there's no better scent to cheer you up -- and watched the next DVD in season 4 of "Felicity." What a totally Sappy Saturday!