Joy...and if all the animals along the equator were capable of flattery...

Job 8:21 (New International Version)

21 He will yet fill your mouth with laughter
and your lips with shouts of joy.

Joy is what I feel when I look at the pictures I posted today. They are some of my favorites, because they really reflect their individual personalities.

First is J.P., my middle child. He is all boy...rough and tumble, always skinned up or scraped up somewhere, and always mischievous. He's not a troublemaker, but he is always in the middle of something.

Next is Clay, the baby. He's sweet and innocent...when he's asleep. ;)

Then there is Andre, the oldest. He's a natural leader, kind and caring, and very much an instigator when it comes to trouble involving the younger two.

The fourth photo is of my late husband, taken not long before his death. He was a good man and an incredible father.

The last picture is one of hundreds I have taken of him with the boys. It's one of my personal favorites.


In other news...

I just love the Ocean's movies. I watched 11 and 12 last night (I still need to get 13), just because. Granted, 12 is not as good as 11, but 13 is better and makes up for the slowness in 12 IMHO. I have always wondered, however, about the part in 12 when they're talking to Matsui in the restaurant. I always laugh when Linus (Matt Damon) takes his turn and quotes Zeppelin lyrics. I googled the conversation, and this is what I found out (http://theboard.byu.edu/index.php?area=viewall&id=14656):

Question: During one scene in Ocean's Twelve, the characters played by Matt Damon, George Clooney and Brad Pitt are sitting in a bar with this guy (Robbie Coltrane) and they start speaking in gibberish. Damon's character is completely thrown; are they speaking in some sort of code, or is it just plain nonsense? - AJ Flickchick: Your question epitomizes the difference between Ocean's Eleven (2001) and Ocean's Twelve (2004). The virtuoso list of needs for the casino robbery in Eleven - "a Boesky, a Jim Brown, Two Jethros, a Leon Spinks, a Miss Daisy and the biggest Ella Fitzgerald ever" - sounds like gibberish, but it's sheer, smirking hipster showing-off. Thing is, it's clever - each term actually means something by way of a highly personal kind of free association, as Steven Soderbergh himself explained (and all I had to do was ask!): "We [Soderbergh and screenwriter Ted Griffin] felt we had to come up with some funny, Damon Runyon-esque turns of phrase that weren't arbitrary - we did sit down and think them out. So, Carl Reiner is the Boesky, as in Ivan, the powerful, rich magnate, inside kind of guy. Jim Brown is the confrontation Bernie Mac has with Matt Damon - the 'Don't mess with me or you're in for it' moment. The two Jethros are Casey Affleck and Scott Caan, the idea being 'We're going to need gear heads, car fanatics... some people who are total hillbilly under-the-hood guys.' A Leon Spinks is the disruption of the boxing match: A sporting event with some controversy to it - that's what Leon Spinks means to me. The Miss Daisy association is driving; that was the SWAT van, a ruse involving transportation. The Ella Fitzgerald is the tape of the fake vault, which they're going to play back and have [Andy Garcia's character] Benedict think is live: 'Is it live, or is it Memorex?'" Makes snarky sense, right? But the gibberish in Twelve is just that: gibberish, though it's supposed to be some kind of sophisticated code that allows thieves to talk freely in a public place about setting up a job. "A doctor who specializes in skin diseases will dream he has fallen asleep in front of the television," says Rusty Ryan (Pitt). "Later, he will wake up in front of the television, but not remember his dreams." "If all the animals along the equator were capable of flattery, then Thanksgiving and Halloween would fall on the same date," replies Ocean (George Clooney). "When I was four years old," counters Matsui (Robbie Coltrane - hey, that's funny, a guy who looks like Robbie Coltrane playing someone named Matsui), who's in a position to set them up with a much-needed gig that involves robbing a reclusive Amsterdam antiques dealer, "I watched my mother kill a spider with a tea cozy. Years later, I realized it was not a spider. It was my Uncle Harold." The desperately baffled Linus (Damon), aware that it's his turn, chimes in with lyrics from Led Zeppelin's "Kashmir": "O let the sun beat down upon me/Stars to fill my dreams/I am a traveler in time and space/To be where I've been." Ryan and Ocean swear Linus just called Matsui's niece a whore, but they're obviously jerking his chain. Which is all very well and good, but jerking the viewer's chain is something else. You could do your nut turning over the goofy non sequiturs in your mind, trying to grab will o' the wisp clues. Halloween and Thanksgiving on the same date... You wear masks on Halloween, you know, like a burglar, and if Halloween and Thanksgiving are on the same date then that means the job will go well. But what about the equator animals and flattery? Maybe that means that if you can get your crew - the animals (thanks a lot, boss) - to play nice together and work toward a common goal ("equator" = "line," as in getting your ducks in a row), then the job is doable. Whatever. The actors seem to be having a blast, but the scene oozes contempt for poor schmucks who shell out their hard-earned bucks to see a movie. And that, in my book, is the problem with Ocean's Twelve in a nutshell.

I also love the part in 12 when Tess has to play Julia Roberts...hilarious. The scene with Bruce Willis is one of my favorites!

The Soundtrack of My Life

Judges 5:2-3 (New International Version)

2 "When the princes in Israel take the lead,
when the people willingly offer themselves—
praise the LORD!

3 "Hear this, you kings! Listen, you rulers!
I will sing to ^[a] the LORD, I will sing;
I will make music to ^[b] the LORD, the God of Israel.

I took the boys to see Journey in concert last night at the Superpages.com center in Dallas. We've seen Journey several times, but the youngest two had only seen them once...back in 2005, their daddy took them to see them at the Nokia theatre. I wanted to take them myself this time, to commemorate something that was important to all of us. Journey music has been a huge part of our lives. My life, actually. Even though they've gone through several breakups, reformations, restylings, lead singers, and sounds, they've always been a band whose music I loved. My late husband was probably their number one fan. When the tickets for this show went on sale, I bought them the first day so I could experience this show with the boys. I am so glad I went.

Andre chose not to go at the last minute. I had only bought four tickets, and he wanted to take his girlfriend. Unfortunately, when I bought the tickets, they weren't dating at that time, and afterwards, the show was sold out. So I gave his ticket to one of J.P. and Clay's friends and we all went. I wonder what it says about me, that I couldn't find one adult to go with me to the show. I asked everyone I knew, but nobody took me up on the offer of a free ticket. It's a shame, because the show was awesome.

Cheap Trick opened and did a 40 minute set, sounding good but you can tell that lead singer Robin Zander is feeling his age (aren't we all?). The boys recognized a couple of their songs, likely due to Guitar Hero's inclusion of "Surrender" in the game. Next, Heart rocked the house. Ann and Nancy still sound amazing and belted out some of their biggest hits. They brought the house down with "Magic Man" and "Alone." I just wish they had sung "Dog and Butterfly," which is one of my favorite Heart songs ever.
After about 45 minutes, they left the stage for Journey's crew to set up.

It took almost another 45 minutes for them to get the stage ready, but it was worth the wait. I had not seen Arnel Pineda (the new lead singer) before, so I didn't quite know what to expect. He's a very good singer, and sounds remarkably like Steve Perry. He looks a lot like him as well, other than the fact that he is Filipino. He's high energy, that's for sure...and so was the show. The hits sounded great, and the new songs from "Revelation" are good as well. I was impressed. So was the rest of the audience, which was PACKED. I'm not sure what capacity is at the amphitheater, but there was barely room to breathe.

The songs that I came of age to..."Open Arms," "Don't Stop Believing," "Be Good To Yourself," and all the great hits...it was an emotional experience to hear them all again with my own children at my feet. They were singing right along with me. I finally broke into tears when Jonathan Cain played the first few notes of "Faithfully" on his piano. It was our song. The song Byron sang to me the first night he told me he loved me. The song we played on our wedding night. The song whose name was the closing for every note, every card, every letter I ever wrote to him. I knew it would be emotional for me, but I guess I underestimated the catharsis I experienced. I had to let all the past 16 months of pain and emptiness go in those tears, crying in the midst of 10,000 people cheering and singing. Hearing that song, by the people who wrote it and played it for us, live in person, with my kids there and my husband in Heaven, was almost more than I could bear. But when it was over, my tears stopped as I looked to the darkening twilight sky. I saw the first stars of the evening, and a cloud formation right above my head in the perfect shape of an L. A sign that only God and Byron could send...a fluffy, cirrus-cloud message to me that they were still watching me and with me when things get difficult. I stopped crying and rocked out the rest of the show with the boys. We danced, cheered, and had a great time.

We got home about midnight, and the boys were tired (I of course, was exhausted). I am a little hoarse today, but none the worse for wear. I am so glad I had the opportunity to share that experience with my kids.

Do you have certain music that is important to you? What is the soundtrack of your life?

I'm Not Alone

Psalm 62

1 My soul finds rest in God alone;
my salvation comes from him.

2 He alone is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.

I hope everyone's Sunday is going well. I am in a better frame of mind today, due largely in part to the fact that my church is awesome. We had a great service today, and our Sunday school class was equally uplifting. I feel a little bit better and have been reassured that all will be well if I just leave it up to Jesus and stop trying to make it be all about me. Humility is not my strong suit, and neither is patience...I just can't seem to let go of control of situations and ask for help when I need it. I think I'm a big girl and can do it all by myself. But I am always shown that it's not about me, my control, or my way at all...it's His way, His will, that will (and should) be done. I am making a conscious effort to let Him be in control and not be so caught up in trying to do it all alone. I'm NOT alone, no matter how lonely I might feel.

J.P.' s Sunday school teacher (Crystal Slade) sang a beautiful song at church today. It's called "You're Not Alone" and it was perfect timing for me to hear it and truly listen to what the words say. Here are the lyrics in case you don't know the song (it's by Meredith Andrews):

I search for love
When the night came and it closed in
I was alone
but you found me where I was hiding
and though I'll never ever be the same
It was the sweetest voice that called my name
singing

You're not alone
For I am here
let me wipe away every fear
My love I've never left your side
I have seen you through the darkest night
and I'm the one that's loved you all your life
All of your life

You cry yourself to sleep
cause the hurt is real
and the pain cuts deep
All hope seems lost
With heartache your closest friend
and everyone else long gone

You've had to face the music on your own
but there is a sweeter song that calls you home
**sayin'

You're not alone
For I am here
let me wipe away your every tear
My love I've never left your side
I have seen you through the darkest nights
And I'm the one that's love you all your life
All your life

Faithful and true... Forever
For my love will carry you....

You're not alone
for I... I am here
let me wipe away every fear... Oh yeah
My love I've never left your side
I have seen you through your darkest nights
Your darkest nights
And I'm the one that's loved you all your life
All of your life

It's amazing how He reveals Himself to us every day if we just take the time to look around, pay attention, and listen.

The pictures I posted today are some old favorites of mine, taken in various locations around here and Dallas. The wooden cross, however, was found on the roadside near Fort Davis, TX on vacation last year, as well as the cowboy. I love to search for beauty in the everyday, and to see things that others might overlook. I hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoyed taking them.

Have a great rest of the day...see you tomorrow! :)

Saturday Doldrums

Psalm 25:15-17 (New International Version)

15 My eyes are ever on the LORD,
for only he will release my feet from the snare.

16 Turn to me and be gracious to me,
for I am lonely and afflicted.

17 The troubles of my heart have multiplied;
free me from my anguish.

Another not-much-of-anything-special-to-do day today...which is great because school and work are just around the corner. Cleaned house this morning, but I still need to vacuum. Picked up J.P. and Clay's friends in Quinlan so they could spend the night, and their two friends down the street are here as well. It's a house full of kids...I better have some ibuprofen on standby! ;)

I've been kind of down the past couple of days... I think I'm just feeling lonely and sorry for myself. I really miss being married, or at least being part of a couple. Having someone to share your life with is taken for granted by so many people...I know I took it for granted before he died. I regret that but there's not much I can do about it now except not to make that same mistake again, if ever given the opportunity to share my life with someone again. I just miss that close companionship...the fact that you know someone is there to talk to or cry with or just be with, doing nothing at all. Like I said, I'm just feeling sorry for myself today and probably need to double my dosage of Lexapro. ;) Truth be told, I need to call on Jesus to help pull me up. I am not praying as much as I would like to and that's my own fault.

Gotta start thinking about back-to-school shopping for the kids. I have their school supply lists, which are each about as long as my arm. I probably ought to have the credit card at the ready along with extra ibuprofen and Lexapro for that trip. :)

Skywatch Friday

Psalm 68:34 (New International Version)

34 Proclaim the power of God,
whose majesty is over Israel,
whose power is in the skies.

Here are a couple of the beautiful skies I saw this week on vacation...what amazing color and depth He has given us!!! :)

I hope everyone has a wonderful Friday, and I can't wait to see the skies in your part of the world.

Shifting Sands

Matthew 7:25-27 (New International Version)

New International Version (NIV)

25The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.

So here are a few more Cooper Lake pictures...these are of my kids or my great nieces and nephews, as we were all there together. I love to watch kids play in the sand. It reminds me of my own childhood, when I would spend what seemed like hours just playing in sand...scooping it into and out of buckets, making castles, moats, towns, whatever I fancied at the time. Something inevitably would happen and shift the sand, collapsing my creations and forcing me to start anew. It's a lot like life, sand. We are constantly shifting about in life, and sometimes things make us take stock of who we are and where we are heading, and sometimes we have to start anew. Here's to staying on firm foundations and living like He wants us to live, even in uncertain times.

It's nice to go on vacation, but it's GREAT to be back home!

Isaiah 40:29 (New International Version)

29 He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.

Whew...I'm back and I survived three days in the wilderness. Ok, so it was air-conditioned wilderness, but if you have to hike a quarter mile to the bathroom and shower, it's WILDERNESS in my book. ;)

We had a great time, even though it was HOT. If you've never been to Cooper Lake State Park, it's worth the 75 mile drive. It's between Sulphur Springs and Paris, so it's not really that far, and it's gorgeous. We saw all kinds of wildlife, we swam, hiked, fished, and played, and the kids loved cooking over a fire (I have to admit that s'mores are good, even in the dead of summer). I only took 1,480 pictures (really), so I will have to get them pared down and processed so you can see our adventures. I've only posted a few, but you can see how beautiful this place is (as well as two of my great-nieces who posed in the top photo)!

There's lots more to come, but I'm tired and ready to sleep in my own bed. Thanks for stopping by and reading...and thanks to Jim for the link on Terrell Daily Photos! :)

In my yard...

Psalm 104:24 (New International Version)

24 How many are your works, O LORD!
In wisdom you made them all;
the earth is full of your creatures.

See what's living in my yard?

We have a family of barn swallows that nested above my front porch last year and returned this summer to raise a new brood. I noticed a couple of times in early summer that eggs had fallen from the nest, but finally, they managed to hatch four babies. That was a few weeks ago. Three of the fledglings are now flying around, but the fourth one (seen in these pictures) is not flying yet. He hops around all over the yard, and sometimes flutters a few inches from the ground, but still hasn't taken to the air. Mama is still very protective of him, and she always comes when he calls to her. I snapped these images while opportunity presented itself, because it won't be long before he flies I'm sure.

I took this opportunity to teach the kids about these birds. We googled barn swallows, and learned that they are the most common bird (when you include all their varieties). We also learned that they eat insects while in flight. The fledglings take about a week to learn to fly and will no longer return to their nest after that time period. I know the other three babies are still coming back to the nest at night, but that will stop in the next few days. It's sad to see them leave, but next spring, Mama and Daddy will return to start the cycle again.

Went to Sunday school and church today...even though I have a major migraine that is making me want to find the nearest guillotine. Very good class, and equally good message from Bro. John today. We were saddened to hear of our youth minister's call to another church, but I know we all wish him well and will soon have another great youth minister to work with our kids.

Here's to a good week. I'm leaving tomorrow morning with the kids to go camping for a few days, so I won't be posting until Thursday. I'll have TONS of pictures, though, so stay tuned! Keep us in your prayers if you don't mind. :)

Mmmmmm!!!!

Matthew 5:6 (New International Version)

6Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

for they will be filled.

I grilled chicken tonight for supper...some Montreal Chicken seasoning, key lime juice, and a tad of olive oil. My oldest son thought I was nuts when he saw me taking the camera out the back door towards the grill...but here you go. It was tasty stuff!

As far as today's verse is concerned...there are many times in my life when I hunger and thirst for more...to know Him better, to serve Him better, to be a better me. He always seems to do something every day to make me appreciate my life and my circumstances just a tiny bit more than I did the day before. For that, I'm eternally grateful.

P.S. I'm also eternally grateful that A&E is showing some of my favorite movies, all on one day!!! Tombstone, Wyatt Earp, and Open Range. Heaven on television! :)

As promised...tonight's Skywatch photo

Here is how the sun sets in my neighborhood...how's it look near you?

Joining Skywatch Friday

Psalm 19:1 (New International Version)

1 The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.


I thought I'd join the Skywatch Friday group and post a sky picture each Friday for your enjoyment...but as yet, I haven't taken a picture today. I want to take a sunset shot and I'm impatiently waiting for the sun to go down. I promise I'll get it posted before the day is gone. My bedroom faces east and my front door faces west, so I get to see a sunrise and sunset every day from the comfort of my air conditioning. ;)

Until I get a shot of the sunset tonight, I'll post a sunset I shot over Lake Tawakoni from the FM 751 bridge near Quinlan a while back. I love the oranges and pinks of sunset.


So, I will get a new shot up this evening when the sun goes down...I am glad to join a group that appreciates the beauty and glory of His skies as much as I do!

Beauty in the Everyday

Romans 1:16 (New International Version)

16I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.

When you look at all the beauty in the world surrounding us, how can anyone deny God's very existence, much less be ashamed to share the gospel with others?

These are all flowers I've shot in the past couple of years in various local spots...you can see my whole floral portfolio (and my other portfolios) at DPChallenge if you'd like.

Today's been a day of laundry and cleaning...oh joy. Seems like every time I pick something up two more somethings appear in its place. The joys of parenthood! ;)

Went to the post office, and for the first time in recorded history, there was NO line. Of course it was 4:15 so I guess I was right before the last-minute rush, but it was nice to pop in and out in just a few minutes. I then had to go to Wally World, which was not nearly as pleasant an experience, but necessary nonetheless. I had a hankering for stuffed baked potatoes, so we bought potatoes and such for supper. We decided on bbq to go in them, and they were very good. Even the kids liked them.

Now I have packing and planning to look forward to...we're going camping at Cooper Lake next week. I am not much of a camper, but we're going to make it work. My sister and I have rented two "shelters with amenities" (i.e. air conditioning and electricity) for three days so we can at least be in some sort of comfort. It will be me, my three kids, my oldest son's best friend, my sister, and her EIGHT grandchildren. What a crew. I think we might have lost our minds....I'll let you know for sure soon. ;)

Day at the Lake

Well, we did go to the lake after all...just me and the two youngest boys. We went to Lake Tawakoni State Park. We were the only ones on the swim beach and it was great! After swimming a while, we went on one of the nature trails. After a quick shower and packing up, we stopped at Ham's on the way home for ice cream. It was very tasty, and a fun time was had by all. You can see more pics from today on my flickr photostream slideshow on the right side of the page. :)

Staying Afloat

2 Samuel 22:16-18 (New International Version)

16 The valleys of the sea were exposed
and the foundations of the earth laid bare
at the rebuke of the LORD,
at the blast of breath from his nostrils.

17 "He reached down from on high and took hold of me;
he drew me out of deep waters.

18 He rescued me from my powerful enemy,
from my foes, who were too strong for me.

Ever feel like you're treading water in the sea of the daily grind? Sometimes I think we all feel that way, myself included. With money as tight as it is for most folks, that just adds to the drama. But when I am feeling like I'm about to go under, I know that God is there to help pull me back up to the surface and keep me afloat. I've had to call upon Him so many times in the past 15 months, but He is always there and always helps me to make it one more day. I am so thankful and appreciative of His saving grace.

Speaking of treading water, I think I might take the kids to the lake today. The three of them are all practically little fishes...especially the younger two. What's so funny is that the youngest, Clay, would not ever even allow water on his face up until last week. He spent the week with his grandmother in Athens and she had him take swimming lessons...and now he's swimming under water, jumping off the diving board, and even went to a water park on Sunday with some friends and went down the HUGE slides all on his own. It's amazing!

I will take a bunch of pictures if we go and I'll post them up later. To tie you over while waiting for my amazing photography skillz, please enjoy the picture at the top of this post...it's from the last time we went, just about two weeks ago. That's Daniel, Zack, J.P., and Clay (J.P. and Clay are mine, the other two are neighbors) posing in the water. Such little goofballs!

Oh...in other news: What's this world coming to??? I guess I will be next, because I take TONS of pictures of my kids at the park. Sheesh.

Brand New Day

Ecclesiastes 7:7-9 (New International Version)

7 Extortion turns a wise man into a fool,
and a bribe corrupts the heart.

8 The end of a matter is better than its beginning,
and patience is better than pride.

9 Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit,
for anger resides in the lap of fools.

Today I am doing a whole lot of nothing...I've half-watched "Animal House" and "Funny Farm" while listening to a never-ending stream of kids running around the house. I cleaned the kitchen (sort of) and made the bed, and finally took a shower at 10:00am. Guess it's good to have a day "off" every once in a while.

Speaking of patience...the kids are about to drive me crazy, though...the three of mine, plus about five neighborhood ones always seem to hang out here. Hanging out is OK, until they decide they are all pro wrestlers and try to kill one another for fun. They can be so loud! Plus I can not afford to feed everyone who is over here all the time...it's hard enough in today's economy to provide for my own, much less everyone else's. I also am finding it very disconcerting that my kids seem to disregard my rules and disrespect my house when there are so many over here. There is a rule that they cannot take food or drinks into their rooms. Yesterday evening I found five coke cans, two glasses, two large bags of chips, and a bag of popcorn in J.P.'s room. I was furious. No more kids playing in there until he learns to follow the rules.

Andre has gotten to where he pesters J.P. and Clay mercilessly, which is probably completely normal as big brother things go...but it gets on my very last nerve. He knows it, too.

I love my kids, don't get me wrong. I love that they want to play here and that all their friends feel comfortable coming to play here too...but it's a bit overwhelming at times and it is just more than I can take every day. I need a break. I'll continue to pray for patience and strength...please help me in those prayers if you can.

I sure wish Calgon worked like in the commercials! ;)

Well, while I'm here...

Colossians 1:10-12 (New International Version)

10And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully 12giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.

I guess I'll kick off this blog today and start electronically writing the general "stuff" that I usually write in my personal journal. I've done a few blogs before but I never can keep up with them. The best I've done was a year-long photo blog. I will probably post a LOT of photos here, so I will just warn you now. ;) I'll also post a bible verse each day to ponder (that's ponder for you AND for me). I picked Colossians today because that's what our Sunday school class is studying. I'm really enjoying the study, the class, and the friendships I've made since joining.

Some background info if you "ain't from around here." Terrell is a pretty small town, relatively speaking, as compared to places like Dallas or even Mesquite or Garland or other major suburbs. It's huge, however, compared to towns I lived in growing up. I lived in Edgewood for a while in grade school, and I graduated from high school while living in Emory. Those are REALLY small. So I've got some perspective and some life experience to help me form and shape opinions about life in Terrell.

I have worked for the school district for 12 years...this August starts year 13. I have loved every year of it. There are challenges, to be sure, but overall the district is a good place to work and send your kids to school. My kids go here, and have done so all their lives, even when I didn't live in Terrell (employees can bring their kids here without having to pay the transfer fees). I do not worry about the quality of education they receive, and I do not worry that they are missing out on things that other districts might offer. My sons are well-adjusted, bright, and very active in all sorts of activities. Terrell ISD is not evil or awful, as many in this community would have you believe. I don't just say that because I work here. I say it because I believe it, 100%. Of course, there are bad teachers. There are ineffective teachers. There are teachers who don't care. But you know what? There are those in EVERY district. I have been blessed to have teachers for my children that are NOT like that.

As parents, we must be vigilant about who is teaching our kids, of course. But also be vigilant about what they are learning...the schedule for the day...the lunch menu...the class newsletter...take-home folders...homework...and all the other general communication opportunities we have to stay in touch with school and know what is going on with our kids. In my not-so-humble opinion, the ones who "bark" first about bad teachers or classroom situations with kids not succeeding or being mistreated (not abused, that's for another rant) are the guilty dogs themselves...those who choose not to be involved until something goes awry. That's the point when they choose to blame the teacher, the principal, the superintendent...when in all actuality, the parent could have been involved from the beginning.

I will climb down off of my soapbox, I suppose, but suffice it to say that you'll hear a lot about school from me because it's close to my heart and it's a major ingredient in my life.

School starts again in about six weeks...however, I report back to campus on August 4. Where did the summer go????