It's been awhile....

Hello Blogophere!! Once again it's been awhile!

Sigh!

Life's been busy and it seems I am TIRED when I get home so I've hardly been on my computer lately! I have over 400 posts to read in my google reader! I have lots of catching up to do!!  I am writing this post from Starbucks! Hubby and I decided to get out the house this evening so we grabbed our computers and came to our favorite place, Starbucks!

I can't believe it's already February! Honestly where did January go?? I am not complaining! I am not a fan of these winter months so I am glad to see them flying by! I really shouldn't complain we've been having Spring like temperatures lately. So crazy!

This past week hubby and I finally took the plunge and bought a NEW bed!! We upgraded from a queen to a king and I cannot begin to tell you how much I LOVE IT!! I find I want to spend any extra time laying in bed watching TV. Guess that's another reason why I haven't been on my computer lately!!

well, I just wanted to check in since it's been awhile. Hope everyone is doing well!! I 'll be by to say hello soon!

Lazy Saturday Randoms

Today has been a really LAZY day and I am loving it!! School is busy and I finding I am exhausted at the end of the day, so just relaxing today feels so good!!

These past few days the weather has been so gorgeous!! Today we're in the 70s! Is it really January? I am loving these temps, I just really hope it doesn't mean it's going to get HOT faster!! It seems when we were having colder temps and snow, other parts of the country were warmer and now that we're warmer they're getting hit with SNOW! So crazy!! It's weird that it was almost a year ago, we had our COLD blast! I am sure our cold days aren't over, so I better keep those winter clothes out a little while longer, just incase.

It seems I have become obsessed with painting my nails!! Seems like every Saturday afternoon, I sit down and redo them. It's weird how I go through these phases.

I am currently reading The Best of Me by (You guessed it) Nicholas Sparks! It's definitely an enjoyable read. These past few days I have found myself reading in the middle of the night! I tend to wake up each night at 2am, my mind begins to wonder and I find I can't shut it off, so I pick up my book and read a few pages which seems to help me fall asleep. I guess that's another reason why I've been SO tired this week!!

It looks likes it's that time again! Time to do my nails! Hope everyone is having a great weekend!

Faith

With each season comes different themes! You know what I mean! Like commercials on tv, during the summer it's all about refreshing drinks, vacations, swimming etc! As we move into Thanksgiving it's all about food and great recipes and of course lets not forget the SHOPPING as we move into the Christmas. So now that we're in a new year its all about weight loss, exercise and New Year's resolutions. For some reason I cringe every time I see (or read) these adds. I guess it's guilt, I should be making these changes too and making myself better.  Last year I made a list of goals I wanted to accomplish in 2011 and I am kinda embarrassed because I didn't stick with many of them! Sigh!

So, this year I am just not going to make goals or resolutions BUT one thing I do want to do is have a ONE word mantra, like last year! Last year, my word was Proactive. This year I think the best word for me is....

FAITH

If I've learned anything this past year it's I need to have faith! Faith that the Lord has a plan for my life,  faith to know that His timing is perfect and faith that Lord know's what's best for me. Recently I've gone through some things that have been hard to understand, both personally and professionally (Sorry to be vague and trust me I am not meaning to be, it's just somethings I've decided to keep private.) and they've reminded me that my plan in not the Lord's and the only thing I can cling to is my faith.

Trust the Lord completely; don't ever trust yourself. In everything you do, put God First, and he will direct you and crown your efforts with success. Proverbs 3:5-6

Books I Read in 2011

I know it's already January 7th but I thought I do a recap of the books I read in 2011. Since I didn't really start loving to read until just a few years ago, I'm still in awe sometimes that I actually read books and ENJOY it!! If you're new to my blog, you may not know that I had a VERY difficult time learning to read as a child. I struggled so much I was turned off to reading most of my life. It wasn't until just a few short years ago that I developed a love for reading.

So here are the books I enjoyed this past year! (From to time to time I like to go back and see what books I read! I know kinda silly!)

I started off the year reading The Choice by Nicholas Sparks. LOVE this book but MAN it made me CRY!!!

Next I read Angel Falls by Kristin Hannah. Another tear jerker but oh so good!! LOVED it!

Then I read The Notebook....

Followed by...

The Wedding both by Nicholas Sparks. 

(Do you see a pattern?)

I had seen the movie, The Notebook, SEVERAL times but never read the book!! Of course the book is SO much better! I thoroughly enjoyed reading it!! The Wedding (Sequel to the Notebook) is pretty good too!

Then in March I started the book Safe Haven and YES by none other than Nicholas Sparks! 

This was the first book I read on my iPad! Takes reading to a whole new level!! Sadly I sold my iPad in September! :( 

In April I read the Magic Hour by Kristin Hannah

and

  I loved Water For Elephants and really liked the movie too!!

The next two book were fun easy reads...

and

The movie Something Borrowed was not anywhere as good as the book but I am still hoping they come out with the movie Something Blue!

Then just recently, over my Christmas break I read

and 

And that's a total of 12 books!! I am so thankful I document what I read here on my blog. I am sure I wouldn't have remembered all of them, otherwise! I doubled my reading record! I wonder if that means in 2012 I'll read 24!! It's definitely a goal to strive for!!! 

What about you? 

What books did you read last year??

Hello and Happy New Year!!

Well once again I've been a little quite here in the blogland! I hope everyone had a great Christmas!!

Mine was pretty good and I LOVED every minute of my days off from school! This year we decided to stay home. The past 3 years we were in Arizona with my sister and her family for Christmas. I REALLY missed being with them on Christmas but I also enjoyed being close to home this year. The first part of my vacation was pretty busy. It seemed like everyday was filled with something! I am not complaining, I actually like the hustle and bustle of the holidays! We even got a little snow on the 23rd and 24th!! It made this Christmas extra special and helped to get me in the Christmas Spirit!! 

Here's a picture of me on Christmas Eve.
We were heading out to breakfast and I made my hubby take a picture of me IN the snow!!
 Can see the flakes falling? 

The second half of my break was spent mostly being LAZY!! I read 2 books and am in the process of reading another now. I also watched the TV series Parenthood on netflix. I LOVED it and I am kind of sad I am all caught up and have to wait until next week to watch it again!!  

I started back to school this week and I've literally hit the ground running!! The Spring semester is always stressful as we are in TESTING crunch mode!! As literacy coach, this time of year gets pretty intense!!

Hope you're having a wonderful New Year! So far 2012 is off to a good start! I am hopeful it's going to be a great year!! I pray this is the year dreams come true!!! 

Christmas Dog

Christmas Dog 

By Shel Silverstein 

Tonight’s my first night as a watchdog,

And here it is Christmas Eve.
The children are sleepin’ all cozy upstairs,
While I’m guardin’ the stockin’s and tree.

What’s that now--footsteps on the rooftop?
Could it be a cat or a mouse?
Who’s this down the chimney?
A thief with a beard--
And a big sack for robbin’ the house?

I’m barkin’ I’m growlin’ I’m bittin’ his butt.
He howls and jumps back in his sleigh.
I scare his strange horses, they leap in the air.
I’ve frightened the whole bunch away.

Now the house is all peaceful and quiet again,
The stockin’s are safe as can be.
Won’t the kiddies be glad when they wake up tomorrow
And see how I’ve guarded the tree.

I couldn't resist putting this picture of my dog Charger  to go with this post!


A teacher friend introduced me to this poem and I fell in LOVE with it!
 Thought it was perfect Christmas Eve!!


MERRY CHRISTMAS EVE!!

White Christmas!

This is what I woke up to this morning!! 

Since I am on vacation, I haven't really paid attention to the news which means I was clueless about the forecasted weather! Yesterday, my hubby informed me we had a chance for snow today but I honestly thought it would just be a few flurries! I am mean we live in west Texas after all. So this morning while laying in bed and checking Facebook on my phone I realized it was snowing! I had to jump up and go peek outside and was shocked that it was WHITE!!! I felt like a little girl on Christmas morning!! I realize by the 25th it will probably be gone but I'll take it a few days early and call it a white Christmas!!

Hello....Christmas Vacation!!

Friday at 12:15 I was officially on Christmas vacation. So far my vacation is off to a great start!!

Friday I went to lunch with my hubby. It's not often we can have lunch together on a week day. We then ran a few errands and did a little Christmas shopping. Later that evening we ended up having an impromptu dinner date with my dad at a nice steakhouse. We typically only go there on special occasions, which made it even more spontaneous! 

Saturday we got up early, so we could take the truck into get an oil change. (We also picked up Starbucks on the way!) While we were out we decided to do a little more shopping afterwards. Later that afternoon we went to a birthday party on my hubby's side of the family. 

Yesterday we did a little bit more shopping. I am happy to say I think I am about done with my shopping. Then today I spent most of the day with a good friend. We met for lunch then hung out at her house and ended the day going to dinner too!! It was nice getting to visit with her! I would definitely say I am enjoying my time off!! 

This is the first year in about 4 years that we are staying home for Christmas. I hate not getting to be with my sister on Christmas but I am enjoying just being home this year too!  Tomorrow I hope to have a lazy day at home. I do have to do some laundry and a few other things around the house but for the most part I am thinking it's going to be a PJ kind of day!! 

Oh yes, I just love being on Christmas Vacation!!!