Real boxes for a real move

Knowing we are moving, I have put off packing up boxes for months now, but this weekend started the official move. Our possessions are starting to go into real boxes for a real move. While cleaning out closets, I stirred up dust and a lot of old memories. Among many fond memories, I found Ashley’s elementary yearbook of when she was in kindergarten. She was in Mrs. Donna Smith’s class. Wow, those kids were so cute! Donna was too! She had long hair. I also ran across Ashley’s all time favorite children’s book called Jillian Jigs. I think the reason she liked it so much was because it fit her perfect:

“Jillian, Jillian, Jillian Jigs!
It looks like your room has been lived in by pigs!”
“Later, I promise. As soon as I am through,
I’ll clean up my room. I promise. I do.”

“Later” always came before “soon” when it came to Ashley cleaning her room and I am sure several roommates can attest that the book fits her still today! She likes things to be freakishly super clean, but for some reason she can live with a cluttered room. I also found a collection of old love letters my husband sent to me while we were dating during my early college years. They are really sweet! It is sad to know the younger generation is missing out on good old-fashioned love letters.

Kelly

Me a Coach???

Me a Coach???

Last week I had a couple of interviews and one was for a social studies job at a tiny school. The position was for a Social Studies/Head Football Coach. Before going to the interview, I commented to my husband, “Surely they looked at my resume and know that I don’t coach.” He replied, “Hey, I think you could pull it off. It is six-man football. All you have to do is tell them boys that when they get the ball, they need to run, and run, and run until they either make a touchdown or get tackled!” Sure enough the first words of the interview started with, “Sooooo…..can you coach?” I took a big gulp and replied sheepishly, but proudly, “Well….uh, I ..I can coach Social Studies UIL.” . . .

So, now I am waiting it out to see if they can find another coach who teaches another subject, if so, then I possibly could find myself as a new employee of this little, but terrific gem of a school. For their sake, I hope not as a coach. Now what makes this story so funny is if you know me, then you know I am one of the most uncoordinated and un-athletic persons alive. In fact, I do not know a whole lot about sports in general. I am the person that once put the lettering “Tee-Off” instead of “Tip-Off” on a school basketball bulletin board. That was really embarrassing!!! Who would think a minor mix up of words could be so important! More so, who would think people could not let that minor mistake die, but they don’t! To me, it is like Tomato or Tomatoe/Potato or Potatoe. What’s the difference?

Hut, Hut, Hut!

Kelly

My Friend Amanda

About a week ago, my sweet friend Amanda wrote about me on her blog, “The Silver Lining.” She said some very, very nice things, which made me both laugh and cry. I think she is buttering me up for something. Maybe she needs a kidney. As a way to say thanks for her kind and encouraging words, I want to say a few things about her…

When I think of my friend Amanda Kirkpatrick. I think of family. She loves her family!!!!!!!!! I will never forget about the time we were on a 2-day school trip together and sharing a room. By the way this room did not have “piped-in music”. [The “piped-in music” thing was an honest mistake that anyone could have made! Right Donna?] As we were getting ready for bed, Amanda pulled out framed photographs of her kids and placed them on the nightstand beside her bed. She loves her husband, children, parents, siblings and in-laws very deeply and they are all extremely close. The only other one to rank above them is her God. She loves Him more than life! There is not a student who has passed through her class, which has not seen or felt her love for God or the love of God. She surrounds her world with scripture. I can’t count how many times I have seen her carrying a Bible to school or on a trip. She is a fine example for her own daughters to follow, as well as the young girls at CHS who she teaches or coaches. My friend Amanda is an encourager and one who has huge heart for those hurting or in need. She is always getting prayer chains ready for someone and working on other ways to help meet their needs. We have shared countless memories and laughs together and I cherish each and every one. Amanda, thank you and know that I love you.

Kelly

Secret Things

Sorry for the delay in updating my Blog. But things have been crazy and too much has been going on these last few weeks. This is TAKS week and you can imagine how crazy CHS is at the moment. We have had several sick, which puts us in a panic. Panic of kids missing and being declared failed. And of course, we are not only concerned with TAKS, but we don’t like them to be sick. Adding to all of this…my cell phone (my connection to God’s plans for my new life) fell in the toilet today! Yes, I know that sounds yuk, but it really happened! And the answer to the question you probably want to know is…NO! NO! There was nothing in the toilet except water. Still gross, but could have been worse.

Speaking of the cell phone. After people read my last blog entry, I have had many ask me if God has called yet to give us a message about the house selling or me a new job and etc. He has been calling, but nothing absolute yet. I have done more interviews and filled out more applications. The house is showing and waiting for the perfect owners who love it as much as we do. God is working on all of it, and I am anxiously waiting for the news. I keep clinging to this verse from Deuteronomy 29:29. It talks about the things our God works on behind the scenes of life, so that His plans can come into place for our lives. The verse is:

The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever…

I have also found that God talks through e-mails and others forms of technology too. This hasn't been a good week. I accidently dropped a deposit of a large sum of cash, which was intended for the bank in an outgoing mail box. Talk about a panic! Thank goodness we have some really honest postmen. I got it all back. Thanks guys for tracking down the money.

Stay safe and avoid the Swine flu. This is a really cute little story titled “Shirley
& Marcy”:

Shirley & Marcy
A mom was concerned about her kindergarten son walking to school. He didn't want his mother to walk with him. She wanted to give him the feeling that he had some independence but yet know that he was safe.

So she had an idea of how to handle it. She asked a neighbor if she would please follow him to school in the mornings, staying at a distance, so he probably wouldn't notice her.

She said that since she was up early with her toddler anyway, it would be a good way for them to get some exercise as well, so she agreed.

The next school day, the neighbor and her little girl set out following behind Timmy as he walked to school with another neighbor girl he knew. She did this for the whole week.

As the two walked and chatted, kicking stones and twigs, Timmy's little friend noticed the same lady was following them as she seemed to do every day all week. Finally she said to Timmy, 'Have you noticed that lady following us to school all week?

Do you know her?'
Timmy nonchalantly replied, 'Yeah, I know who she is.'
The little girl said, 'Well, who is she?'
'That's just Shirley Goodnest,' Timmy replied, 'and her daughter Marcy.'

'Shirley Goodnest? Who the heck is she and why is she following us?
'Well,' Timmy explained, 'every night my Mom makes me say the 23rd Psalm with my prayers, 'cuz she worries about me so much.
And in the Psalm, it says, 'Shirley Goodnest and Marcy shall follow
me all the days of my life', so I guess I'll just have to get used to it!'

The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face to shine upon you, and be gracious unto you; the Lord lift His countenance upon you, and give you peace.

May Shirley Goodnest and Marcy be with you today and always.



Pass it on and brighten someone's day!