Super Turkey

Well, we finished up our last skit for the semester..."Super Turkey".

A pink flamingo is lamenting about her obnoxious pink feathers and the black ravens wish they were regal like the turkey...After all, there aren't any raven door decorations! Turkeys are everywhere this time of year...in yards, on greeting cards and even on paper plates! Super Turkey comes along and sets them straight about the whole Thanksgiving thing and they realize that they should just be happy with who they are and make the most of what they have....And they all lived happily every after...(after they sang the "Super Turkey" song)!!! Fun, Fun, Fun!!!!

HALLOWEEN ES MUY DIVERTIDO

Mi familia y yo tenemos fabuloso Halloween! Rebekah lleva ropa "hippie", G.P. lleva ropa "nerd" and Molly es senorita bonita! Preston y yo preferimos "goth". Vamos Fiesta Otono en la mi iglesa. Muy divertido!

Crowley football, marching band and mums

Last night Crowley lost their undeafeted status against Everman. Oh well, they are still our team and we are proud of them. The marching band looked awesome and the mums were truly a sight to behold. I especially liked the ones with teddy bears, flashing lights and feather boas (afterall, isn't that what Texas football is all about?). It was brisk night - just what you would expect (in Michigan), the stands were full and the hot chocolate was too hot to drink!

Here are some pictures. Pay close attention to Rebekah's mum - her wonderful daddy made it. Would anyone like to place an order for next year?

Carmen Miranda Meets Gloria Estafan?!?!?

Well, it was another successful network meeting at Billy Miner's for Women In New Roles...The skit this week was about a couple of students complaining about all of the work and the goal setting assignment that is due. They decide to ask the wise old woman....who was in the very first Win-R class. Shehad to use an Underwood (circa 1927) typewriter and didn't have that modern computer contraption to help her out. It ended by grandma showing her dance that she would be performing for Hispanic Heritage month. We had a Conga line and all kinds of fun!

Bunko is fun

BUNKO IS FUN!!!! I LOVE YOU ALL!

YEAH BABY!

YEAH BABY!!!!

CROWLEY 19....DENTON 14!!!!

CROWLEY BAND LOOKED AWESOME - THEY ARE GAINING MORE CONFIDENCE EACH WEEK! THEY DFFINITELY WON THE BATTLE OF THE BANDS LAST NIGHT!!!!

GO EAGLES!

GO CROWLEY EAGLES!

2 AND 0....LET'S SEE WHAT THEY DO TONIGHT!!!!!

THEIR BAND IS AWESOME ALSO!!!!!

Alice in WinRland

Another character created!

The WinR skit committee came up with another "winner" at the Network meeting at Billy Miner's last Saturday (click on "Alice in WinRland" title link). It was fun. The original idea for the skit was to have Alice confused and not sure of what she is doing in life....Well, my Alice just couldn't be sweet and pristine, could she? No, my Alice was MESS!!!! Stockings rolled down, toilet paper stuck to shoe, hair disheveled and mascara running down the face. I added the roll of toilet paper for an added affect. The gist of the whole skit was to encourage the women at the meeting to find the direction they need to go by sticking with the Women In New Roles Program.... IT WORKED FOR ME (and Alice)!!!!

Leap of Faith

Sorry it has been so long...Danny reminded me tonight at church that I still have a blog...Is anybody out thereeeeee?????


Things are great, wonderful and awesome with us. My work is going great -I have had the opportunity to substitute teach this year (I am a teacher's aid in Content Mastery) - now I am getting practice for the "real world". School is going well..I'm taking Algebra and Spanish I - Luckily we have a large Hispanic population at my schoool so I can practice alot.

The "Leap of Faith" title actully refers to my wonderful husband, Preston. He quit his job as an insurance agent at Tx Farm Bureau and is now working very hard getting "The Culinary Ministry" established. He gave his notice on Sept 5th and we have been blessed beyond our wildest dreams....He has already set up regular meals at several churches throughout the metroplex and is now looking at establishing the heart of the ministry....working with at-risk young adults. I am SOOOOOO proud of him. God called him and Preston is responding in such a way that I never could have thought possible.

Please pray for us as we embark upon this wonderful journey.

www.servingmeals.org

VBS pics

Keep scrolling down so you can see where I have poured out my heart and soul and thanked everyone involved in this production......................

VBS Pics

VBS is So Much Fun!!!!!

I just have to say that I had so much fun doing VBS this year. This is the first time Preston and I did it together - He either did it and I worked behind the scenes or, like last year, I was in it and he helped watch the kids during all of the long rehearsals that start in April while the kids are still in school. We bit the bullet this year and both participated. WHAT A BLESSING!!!! We have some incredible people at Altamesa...Jennifer & Brian, Brad & Brenda, Joannie & Kelly, Michael & Courtney, Valisa & Aaron, Bobby & Jennifer, Katie & Stephen, Colleen & Alex, Raymond & the Praise Team...They are all the hard-working, humble backbone of this production....So much goes into it and they poured their heart and soul into every detail....I can't leave out Brittney either - what a trooper...She is definitely earning her intern paycheck this summer!!!! I know that everyone involved did this out of love and because we just have so much fun. It was great to see a lot of our young college singles get involved (Whitney, Josh, Matt D, Chester, Adam & Jonathan). I was really touched tonight when Chester (very shy and quiet) got up in front of the entire cast and poured his heart out to us...thanking us for letting him be a part of such a wonderful thing... We also got to make some new friends...Lloyd and Julia (precious), Steve & Linda (awesome), Whitney & Lisa (my fellow palm trees) ...Young and old - veterans and newbies...Robb, Keith, Jimmy, Pam, Teresa, Matt B, Meredith Browning, Kelby, Danny (!) and of course...Andrew Barker...We had it all - and it worked!!!! Can't wait for next year!

I just have to brag

Last night our sweet Rebekah graduated from 6th grade - she will now move on to Middle School. At the graduation many awards were given out...this is what Rebekah received:
Principal's List - A Honor Roll
Academic Excellence in Language Arts
Academic Excellence in Music
Academic Excellence in E.A.G.L.E.
Academic Excellence in E.A.G.L.E. Leadership
Star of Excellence - Lower Grade Helper
Oustanding Performance - Student Council
Oustanding Performance - Guiding Stars President
Oustanding Citizenship
Highest Academic Achievement - Top of the 6th grade class
President's Award for Educational Excellence

Needless to say, we are two mighty proud parents. Not only is Rebekah hard-working and smart, she is a kind-hearted and sweet spirited. We think she is pretty cool...She has recently become a Beatles guru, has maintained a vegetarian diet since December and is looking forward to performing with the Crowley Honor Choir at Carnegie Hall this Saturday May 27th!!!

Ya'll be praying for us - we fly into Laguardia tomorrow (Wed the 24th) and come home on Sun the 28th. We are planning a great trip that we will always remember.

Please keep Preston, GP and Molly in your prayers as well - Preston will be juggling the work, school, baseball practice etc... schedule while we are gone...Plus we will be missing each other tremendously!!!!!

Peace

Wezie

Fabulous Mother's Day!

Today was a wonderful Mother's Day! We slept in, skipped church (no cooking or teaching obligations), Preston made pancakes for breakfast, then we headed over to Dallas. We went to the Farmer's Market - never been there before - it was neat - there is one big building that has Canton-like stuff and then several other buildings with fresh produce, plants and flowers. The kids went crazy trying all of the different fruits and veggies. After that, we came back to Fort Worth and went to the flea market in the cattlebarns...That was fun - the kids really enjoyed looking at all of the old stuff. Bekah was on the hunt for old Beatles albums, GP likes coins and baseball cards and Molly spent 30 minutes picking out earrings! I just enjoyed relaxing and not being rushed. What a great family day. I can't wait until Father's Day!

Night of the Stars

It's over but it was fun!!! Sycamore Elementary School's "Night of the Stars" Variety Show proves that a talent show can be fun even when the airconditioning isn't working. I helped organize it, GP and his friends were the comic relief, Rebekah and her friends were the "Happy Hands Club" (Napoleon Dynamite) and Molly did a stirring rendition of "YMCA"!!!! Of course, Preston was there to support us all the way! Fun, Fun, Fun!!!!!

Fat Friday (Click Here)

Chef Preston Strikes Again!

Every month on payday our school (Sycamore Elementary) has "Fat Friday" (hope nobody from the "Fat Club" reads this). Each grade level or department hosts a luncheon for the staff . It's great fun! We either put money in and they order food, or we have a theme and it's potluck suprise!

This month was my department's turn (Special Ed)....It was very "Special"!

Chef Preston prepared a Hawaiian Luau...we called it "Eat Aloha" The menu consisted of Barbecued pulled pork with pineapple chutney, stir fried rice, tropical salad, fresh fruit and dreamcicle cake. It was wonderful! My husband is the bestest!!!

My Journey (click here)

I had an assignment this week that I thought I would share with you:

My Journey

Fall 2005 - I decide to go back to school. I have been working as a paraprofessional at an elementary school and feel that I could be a really good teacher. I never finished my degree and I know that I have a lot of work ahead of me, but I go ahead and get the ball rolling. I look into financial aid, request my transcripts and meet with a counselor at UTA. She advises me to go to TCC and get as much done there as I can. I have no idea where to start so I make an appointment with a counselor at TCC. While in the waiting room, I notice the brochure for "Women in New Roles". I ask the woman at the desk about the program and she suggests that I meet with Trish Light. She makes a call and it just so happens that Trish is in her office. I walk over to Trish's office and she welcomes me warmly, sits me down and proceeds to register me in the class! One of the things she said was "I don't believe in accidents". Apparently, I was supposed to be in this class! So there I was...ready to go...back in school!!!!

January 2006 - I'm nervous. I'm excited. I'm worried that I'll be the oldest in my class. I'm afraid I won't remember how to study.

Classes begin. I'm no longer nervous - I'm comfortable. I'm still excited. I'm not the oldest in my class. The studying will be easy - what about this Occupational Research Portfolio?!?!?!
From the first day I feel energized every time I leave class. I learn something new each time! The studying is hard to get in because of my family's busy schedule, but my husband supports me and helps out a lot!

February 2006 - Trish asks for volunteers to do a skit at the next Network meeting. I know I have missed my calling as a bad actress somewhere, so I volunteer. I meet with Trish and Laveria to discuss the skit. We brainstorm and come up with a good idea. I plan my costume and get prepared.

In the meantime, the studying is coming along fine. All of the assignments that seemed overwhelming at first are getting done. I am enjoying this class! My personal life is thriving as well. My husband and I celebrate our 20th anniversary. We have never felt so connected. He is the love of my life.

March 2005 - The midterm is lurking ahead. Have I studied enough? Will it be easy? Will it be hard? I study some more. I take the test (first one in 15+ years). I feel pretty good. It was harder that I had expected. I get a B. I'm disappointed but I am looking forward to earning extra credit by doing the skit at the WINR Network this weekend!

My first WINR Network - The skit is "Wrong Way Job Interview". I decide to go "Goth". I go all out with the costume...tattoos, fishnet hose, wig, leather boots - the works! I walk in to Billy Miner's dressed like that with my sweet little family by my side. We get a lot of stares. We go back to the WINR meeting room. I get a lot of stares. People avoid eye contact. It's weird but exciting. I'm someone else...but not really. The skit is a success. The speaker is wonderful. I am glad I went.

Spring Break - I have great intentions of working on my personal project, my resume' and working ahead on the studying. Instead, I paint my daughter's room, clean the garage and have a yard sale. It was a relaxing and productive week. I feel just a little guilty that I didn't do any schoolwork.

Mid-term slump - I need to get back into the groove. I am feeling overwhelmed. Too much is going on at school, work and home. PRIORITIZE!!! That seems to work. I say "no" a few times and "yes" more than I should have.

My Personal project is coming up. I want it to be more that just my hobby or a skill. I want it to be about my personal journey over the past few years. I want to let everyone know where I have been, where I am now and where I want to go. My husband helps me put together a really neat movie showing my work on VBS at our church. The presentation goes pretty well. I get nervous because I was afraid I would run out of time. I still get embarrassed every time the part with me singing comes up.

April 2006 - I turn 42. I love being in my 40's - I would never go back to my 30's. I am thankful that I got to be home for 10 years with my babies. I am also thankful that they are no longer babies and I have emerged from stay-at-home-mommy hood ready to live the rest of my life!

School is going well. I am starting to worry about the finals. I haven't been able to study as much this half of the semester. The kids have so much going on. I have involved myself in several big projects at work and it seems every weekend is crammed full STUFF (The FlyLady says STUFF is "Something That Undermines Family Fun - I agree).

I am very proud of my Occupational Research Portfolio. I have worked hard and learned a lot about myself. I thought I wanted to be a teacher, but wasn't sure if it was because I liked the idea of the hours and summers off. I work in a school, so I am well-aware of what I am getting into. The personality and interest inventories helped confirm that teaching is something that would suit me and I will be successful at it!

I am looking forward to tackling the rest of my classes. I feel equipped and empowered! I am also a little sad. I know that the rest of my classes won't be as fulfilling. I will miss the support of Trish and the class. I plan to continue with the skits and go to WINR Network whenever possible.

I know that I would recommend this class to anyone who wants to learn a little more about themselves, find a career or change their direction in life. This has been an awesome, life-changing experience for me!

The journey has just begun!

The Culinary Ministry (click here)

I am so proud of my husband. Visit this link and see how God has inspired him.

Bunko night!

I'm on my way to pick up Karen B and spend another fun-filled evening with the gals playing a mindless dice game. If all goes as planned, we will eat well (Alice never disappoints), have good conversation, a few lucky players will win fabulous prizes and then we will leave with our faces hurting from smiling and laughing too much!

I really should feel guilty because we just got back from a fabulous retreat, but because I have a wonderful husband and children, there is no guilt - just appreciation.

Gotta go!

Soak up the Son

I can't wait to go to the Ladies' Retreat!!!! I didn't get to go last year, so I am looking forward to being with my friends, staying up late and getting spiritually renewed!!! Will be back Sunday to let you know how it went!!!!

Operation Garbage Sale: Now Complete

Whew!!!! Glad that's over!!!! We did great on Friday, but Saturday was just too rainy and we didn't have any good stuff left anyway. We packed it up and donated it to a good cause!!!! We can walk in our garage again (the pictures are "before")!!! Yeah!!!!!

Hope everyone has a good week!!!! Back to work and school!!!!!

Peace Out!