Mommy Magic

I've decided that some of my favorite moments with Macyn are when she's screaming at the top of her lungs and I'm the only one who can soothe her.  It used to really bother me when she got really upset like that, but it's actually pretty awesome when everyone around has done everything they can think of and then, when I pick her up, everything is all better.  Most of the time I don't even have to do anything but hold her.  I know she can't really see yet, so it's amazing to me that she is able to distinguish me from everyone else.  I've heard she knows my smell and my voice but, no matter how she does it, it's the best feeling in the world to know that she knows me - and that there are times when she just craves being near me.  Don't get me wrong, she loves her Daddy, but sometimes she just needs a little "mommy magic".

 I know as she gets older those times will be few and far between, but I know from my relationship with my own mother that the "mommy magic" never goes away.  I'm a 29-year-old married woman with a child and there are still times when I just want my mommy.  I'm lucky enough to have a mother who understands that, and is also near enough so I can run to her anytime I need her.  Thanks, mom! 

You Are Good

You Are Good

When the sun starts to rise and I open my eyes

You are good, so good.

In the heat of the day, with each stone that I lay

You are so good.

With every breath I take in

I'll tell you I'm grateful again.

When the moon climbs high, before each kiss goodnight

You are good.

When the road starts to turn around each bend I've learned

You are good, so good.

And when somebody's hand holds me up, helps me stand

You are so good.

With every breath I take in

I'll tell you I'm grateful again.

Cause it's more than enough just to know I am loved

And You are good.

So how can I thank you?

What can I bring?

What can these poor hands lay at the feet of a King?

So I'll sing You a love song.

It's all that I have.

To tell You I'm grateful for holding my life in your hands.

When it's dark and it's cold and I can't feel my soul

You are good, so good.

When the world is gone gray and the rain's here to stay

You are still good.

So with every breath I take in

I'll tell you I'm grateful again.

And the storm may swell, even then it is well

And You are good.

You know the cliche that God always speaks in unexpected ways?  This is a song from my Macyn's bedtime CD that has totally reached out and grabbed me in the last couple of days, particularly the last verse.  I've been having this little (well, not-so-little) pity party for myself lately. I'm dealing with circumstances that are less-than-ideal, and I've totally had a horrible, crummy attitude consuming me.  This song is that much-needed reminder that God is always here and always good!  I'm realizing that he put me in this situation for some reason (hopefully to be revealed soon) and that, even though it isn't what I want, it's good.  It also reminds me that God doesn't expect anything from me other than to just be grateful.  Wow.  In our world of, "You scratch my back, and I'll scratch yours," I have a God who expects nothing other than "Thank You."  How cool is that??

Pet Peeves

I get annoyed rather easily.  I used to like to think I was just a laid-back gal who didn't let much "ruffle her feathers."  Recently (if you consider the past 4-5 years "recent") I've discovered that my feathers are, in fact,  blown around quite a bit more than I realized .  I have caught myself saying, "One of my biggest pet peeves is when....." on a regular basis.  Since school started this year, it's pretty much daily.  Perhaps it has to do with the group of students I inherited this year, or the interesting (for lack of a better word) teammate I'm stuck with, or the overbearing parents who just show up in my room and tell me how I'm supposed to do my job.  Go figure.  Anyway, it seems like today has been wrought with annoying "injustices," so I thought I would vent by sharing a few of them.  In no particular order, here are three of my big ones:

1.  Hovering.  I cannot stand it when I'm having a conversation with someone and a third party buzzes around us like a fly at a picnic.  If I am obviously engaged in meangingful (or even pointless) dialogue with somone other than you and you absolutely require my attention at that precise moment, either politely interrupt or just go away until I'm available.  Do not stand there awkwardly, appearing either to be too scared to speak or to eavesdrop on a conversation to which you were not invited.  It is weird, rude, and just plain creepy.  (P.S. - If you decide to interrupt, you had better have a good reason.  I'll just leave it at that.  It's a whole other issue.)

2.  Repeating myself.  I sincerely enjoy talking.  Anyone who knows me will tell you that I could seriously have a conversation with the proverbial brick wall and be thoroughly entertained.  But while I enjoy hearing myself talk, I also believe that what I say is important (or at least worthy of your attention) so, when I say it I expect you to listen.  This is mostly directed toward my students who, even after the 17th time (seriously) I tell them to turn a paper into the appropriate basket when finished still have to ask, "What do I do with it when I'm done?"  Duh.  Not to mention that it's the same basket you've put EVERY single paper you've ever done in my class into.  That's just one example of many that happen daily.  AGH!  I'm sure teachers everywhere feel my pain. 

3.  Excuses.  I now have a sign posted in my classroom that says "Excuse Limit: O."  I just love it when I give my students time in class to finish an assignment, it doesn't get done, so they're assigned to finish it for homework.  Inevitably, they come in the next day with well-rehearsed excuses such as, "I didn't have a pencil" or "I had soccer practice" or (my personal favorite) "My mom threw it away because she thought I didn't need it."  Really, people?!  I'm sure soccer practice took an hour out of the 4 you had after school.  Your homework took 15 minutes - you're telling me you didn't have 15 minutes to do it?  And who is your mom to decide what you need and don't need to keep for school.  Not to mention that YOU knew it was homework and YOU let her throw it away! The funny thing is that it takes them longer to put their excuses together than it does to just do the assignment.   I think I could write a book of excuses my students think up, and this is only my 5th year of teaching.  I can only imagine what's in store in the future.

I'm sure this won't be the end of my ranting on pet peeves.  But while I'm at it, where exactly does the "pet" come from in "pet peeves"?  That's kind of annoying, too.  Til next time......

Hello BlogWorld

Well, I've done it.  I, the epitomy of the technologically non-advanced, have created this blog for no other reason than to write about my family, my interests, my life, my job, my friends..... Hmmmm, is there an underlying theme here?  I'm not sure why anyone in their right mind would care in the least about any of those things, yet here I am! Truth is, my co-best friend Heather (we have a nifty best-friend triangle) has been writing a blog for a little over a year (I think), and she does a fabulous job.  (Shameless plug for her blog - http://www.anothertenmiles.blogspot.com/)  Combine her sense of humor with topics that are actually interesting, and it's a win-win for everyone!  I suppose my decision to join the blogging world is sort of a cross between her "inspiration" and sheer competition to see if I can be as good as her.  I can pretty much answer that question right now, but hey, I'll give it my best shot! 

So, I'm a brand-spanking new mommy - okay, I guess I do have 2 months under my belt - and I'll just admit that, no matter how much experience I had with kids before (essentially my entire life!), I know absolutely nothing about being a parent.  It's quite different from what I imagined during those 9 (um, really 10) months of dreaming about my sweet little angel.  Of course, she is a little angel, even at midnight, 2 a.m., 4 a.m., and 5 a.m.  They should have a pre-pregnancy class that teaches potential parents to deal with little-to-no sleep, no money, screaming/crying, projectile vomit, and a miniature roommate who constantly needs something .  Oh wait - that almost sounds like college dorm life (hehe).  Seriously though, I am super excited about my baby girl and I love, love, LOVE waking up to her cries every day.  It means that I have a purpose.  I have this little person that God entrusted to me, and I am responsible for her precious life every single day.  I can't wait to watch her grow and change into a little lady - to see what she achieves and aspires to in her life. 

And with that said, she is aspiring after my attention and a bottle as we speak.  Til next time......