Spitirual Sunday

"My Grace is Sufficient for You."
                                        2 Corinthians 12:9

 

 

 
Be sure to stop by "Spiritual Sundays" for more "words of Grace".

A Beautiful Sunny Day

Thank you for your kind words about Molly. It is truly appreciated. 

It has been a beautiful sunny day today with temperatures in the low 50's. I  went to Fort Smith, which is an hour trip. The drive was so nice. Warm sun coming the window.

After I was home for a little bit, I suddenly realized that it was so nice outside I could go walk.  From April to November of last year, I walked 1-2 miles every day. It was great and I felt great. Well, I blew it this winter. I only walked/jogged a mile today because I could feel my muscles working and don't want to get sore.

I hope tomorrow is warm and sunny, at least for part of the day, so I can walk again.

Take Care and God Bless!

Saying Goodbye

Usually I think and contemplate what I am going to blog about. Do I have a Metamorphosis Monday post or a Outdoor Wednesday, etc. I put quite a bit of thought in it.

But . . .

last night, something just told me to talk about our dear dog, Molly, and how she adopted us.

This morning, Craig came to me and said that Molly had not eaten the food he put out for her and asked if I had seen her. I told him that I did not get home until after dark the night before so I had not seen her. He went out to go to school and looked over in the flower bed and found her. She looked very peaceful so we guess she died in her sleep.

Last night, something just told me to talk about Molly. 

Goodbye, Molly.

Needless, to say, we are sad here "at home on pine ridge" today.

Take Care and God Bless!

Molly

I'm not an animal lover. I know, I know. It's not that I don't like them, I have just never been a big lover of animals. We always had a dog growing up and I liked having them around but I don't ever remember playing with them much. (I guess with 8 brothers and sisters I always had someone to entertain me.)

This is Molly.

Molly is our dog, we think. We did not buy Molly. She was not given to us. We like to say that Molly adopted us.

Before moving into our current home 6 years ago, we lived on 40+ acres. We always had cows and I loved watching the little calves frolicking in the pasture. We also had poultry houses. About the time we started building the poultry houses this stray dog started coming around. My husband didn't pay much attention for awhile because we lived by the landfill (city dump) and we figured someone dumped another dog. But she stayed around and stayed around so my husband started putting food out. Slowly she befriended my husband and then the rest of us. That was at least 10 years ago. She is still hanging out with us.

See all of the gray. She was gray when she adopted us. We don't know how old she is. We do know that she has been beaten in her life. For years after she came around, any time we picked anything up (water hose, newspaper, stick, etc.) she would cower away from us. So sad. She is no longer afraid of us or anyone that comes to our home. But she is terrified of storms and gun shots and fireworks. She is an outside dog but my son often leaves the garage door open 6 or 7 inches so she can come in when it rains or when it is cold. She has a doghouse, with a light for heat, on our back patio. Sometimes she uses it, sometimes she doesn't.

I know Molly is very old and there has been a couple of times this winter that I thought we were going to lose her.  And . . . I was very sad. So, maybe I am becoming an animal lover after all.

Take Care and God Bless.

Late Valentine's Display

As I was taking down my meager Valentine's Decorations, I realized that I didn't post this sofa table display.

I sure wish I had some spring things to put out. I guess I need to get busy and shop and/or sew. 

Be sure to drop by Marty's A Stroll Thru Life for more tabletop ideas.
Take Care and God Bless!

Metamorphosis Monday

I spent part of my Sunday morning picking up, rearranging, and putting away what little Valentine Decorations I had out. This step ladder belongs to my Larry's grandmother that used to live with us. I was using it at Christmas to put up decorations and decided to use it as a decoration piece.

After Christmas, I put some snowmen on it for a winter display. Then I put a red vase and a few other decorative items on it for Valentines day. Unfortunately, I forgot to take pictures.  

Today I changed it again and now it looks like this.

I guess I could give it a coat of paint so it would match better with the rest of the room decor.


Don't forget to stop by Between Naps on the Porch for more Met Monday Posts.


Take Care and God Bless!

My Teaching Career

A comment was left asking me about my teaching career so I decided to blog my story.

My husband attended St. Joseph Catholic School as a child. I attended St. Benedict's Catholic School as a child. The difference in the schools, that I only realized as an adult, was the St.Joseph was a private school that charged tuition. St. Benedict's was a part of the public school system. Instead of school beginning at 8 or 8:30 in the morning, we went to school between 7 and 7:30 a.m. During this time we attended Mass and had our religion classes. I didn't realize it then, but we had the best of both worlds. We received our religious education and there was no tuition charged.

When my son was in 2nd or 3rd grade, I attended Mass with the school one morning. I tiny whisper told me  "You, too, could be a teacher." I had just completed my Associates Degree in Accounting and changed my major to education. When I finished school, I interviewed at two public schools and St. Joseph School. I was hired by St. Joseph and I know without a doubt that that was where I needed to be. I taught for 6 1/2 years and when my principal resigned was asked to take his place. The only reason I agreed to be principal was because it was the school that I held near to my heart and I knew I was needed. During the next few years, I received my Master's Degree in Administration.

Unfortunately, the stress that comes with running a small, private school (you are basically a superintendent responsible for all employees, funding, etc.) paid a toll on my health and after a few years of sleeping very little and the endless worry, I made the decision that it was time to go back in the classroom as a teacher.

At that time, I have 1 child in college and another starting in the fall.  I felt I needed an increase in pay to help support my children during their years in college. Yes, I do spoil my children, but I can't stand the thought of them finishing school with students loans. I feel like that puts them a step behind as they finish college, look for jobs, settle down in a home and start a family.

Both of my children do have scholarships and are working hard to keep them, but their scholarships are not enough to pay for everything.

It was very hard to walk out of St. Joseph School last June 15 when my final contract was over. It was and still is hard to drive past the school and know it is being run by a new principal. But, I was told by a wise former principal that "You have made the decision to leave. Now, you need to walk out and let the new person run the school. If you keep returning, the school will not be theirs and you will get in the way."

So I have walked away. It has been hard. But I do still support the school by attending fund raisers. I love the fact that the teachers there now can truly be friends (as I am not their boss any longer). I stay in touch with them, they ask for advice from time to time, and I can still give them guidance in their teaching and working with the children.

The hardest part is seeing the children and knowing that I am not that central role model in their lives. Most of them still smile and hug me when they see me, but it's just a little different.

But, now I have a new family at my current public school. During the past week or so, some of the students have begun to ask me if I can be their teacher again next year. As most teachers know, this is high praise. This is when you know that no matter how tough you are on them, that they appreciate you and know you are a good teacher and someone they can trust and depend on.

Please stop by Spiritual Sunday blog for more inspiration.

Take Care and God Bless!

Show and Tell Friday

Visit Cindy at My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday entries.
 
Last Saturday, Larry and I attended a fund raiser for the small Catholic School where I taught for 6 1/2 years and was principal for the last 3 1/2 years. It was an annual Mardi Gras dinner and dance which was started 11 years ago. The evening starts with appetizers from 6 to 7 and a dinner and dance from 7 to 11. The highlight of the evening (and the money maker) is a grand silent auction. Each year it gets bigger and better.

This year I won the following item from the silent auction.

This item was made by our parish priest. He is an accomplished welder.

Last year he made a beautiful sculpture that was about three times the size as the one I won this year but was made out of the same material. I called it the Risen Christ because it looked like a man was rising from the center of a flower. I would have bid on it but the starting bid was $300 by a lady that was not attending the fund raiser. I think I was the only person attending the event that liked the sculpture. It was was too contemporary, I guess.

But, I like things that are unusual and one of a kind. And the sculptures he makes are both.


Take Care and God Bless!

Thankful Thursday

Today I am thankful for . . . (I think . . .)

I endured all of that for one decent picture. Mess around with me and this is what you'll get. Your goofy pictures on my blog. 

Gotta love 'em. Really, I don't know what I would do without them.

Take Care and God Bless.

Outdoor Wednesday

The snow has finally gone but it is still brutally cold.

It is supposed to be in the upper 50's by the end of the week. This is my sunshine fix until then.

These pictures were taken on a camping trip last summer. Gotta love the sunshine and warm weather.

Take Care and God Bless!

Visit A Southern Daydreamer for more OutsideWednesday photos.

We Have a Winner!

I had my son draw a winning number for me this morning before he went to work.

And the winner number is . . .

The fourth post was made by Gillian Layne. Gillian your blogger profile is not public so I am unable to e-mail you. Please email me with your address and I'll have the Valentine Table Runner on it's way to you.

I want to thank all of you that left a comment and those of you that read my blog but did not comment. I am already thinking about another one in a couple of months.

My son asked why he was drawing a name. After I explained to him about the giveaway he said, "You mean you have people that read your blog?"  I told him "yes" in an offended tone and then I fussed at him and told him he should be checking it everyday also. All in fun, of course.  Kids--aren't they great!

Take Care and God Bless!

Tabletop Tuesday, Tablescape Thursday & A Giveaway

 

Simplicity and fun is the theme of this week's tablescape. Scroll to the bottom to find out about the giveaway.

  

 

I am giving away the Valentine Table Runner you see in these pictures. Visit this post to enter with a comment.  

Don't forget to visit Tabletop Tuesday and Tablescape Thursday to see the talents of hundreds of bloggers.

 

Outdoor Wednesday

Yeserday morning was another one of those beautiful sunrises that I get to see when I do not have to go to work.  This is what I saw when I first looked out.

Within the hour. . .

Our God is, indeed, an awesome God. 

 

I'm linking to Outdoor Wednesday. Stop by A Southern Daydreamer for more beautiful outdoor shots. 

It's not too late to sign up for my Valentine Table Runner Giveaway. 

Take care and God Bless.