Reliving my Childhood

I've just spend the last several hours listening to 3-6 year old music, trying to make a CD of fun songs for the new large group teachers. I listened to Hip-Hip-Hooray (Hippopotamus) and many others about 10 times each so that I could type out the lyrics. But it brought me back to my childhood --- singing some of those same songs when I was a kid. I loved (and still do) the song Hip-Hip-Hooray (Hippopotamus). It was so weird, but as I was listening to it, I almost started to cry thinking about the little kids jumping up and down doing the motions and being so excited that God made fun and strange things like hippos. Everything I work with the kids, I am amazed by their "child-like" faith -- it's a good remind to not get caught up in all the semantics of our faith, but just to be so happy and excited that I have a God who loves me so much!
In the midst of doing all of this, Joel received a phone call from a dog shelter. His sister Molly had sent us some links to Newfoundland/lab mixes and Joel filled out an application. Turns out we are first in line for the male!! They aren't ready for visitors yet, but their supposed to call us next week to see if we want to set up a time to come see the puppy (and perhaps take him home!) I might have my Stokely sooner than I had thought!

a moment of sheer delight

This afternoon I actually found myself with an hour and a half before I had to go to work and absolutely nothing that I needed to be doing. So I indulged myself in one of my favorite activities... taking an unnecessary long hot shower. I love getting into the shower with oldies blasting from the radio and letting the hot water beat down on me. It's the one place where I can have it as warm as I'd like. ahhh..... just a wonderful feeling! But now, it's off to work!

A Wonderful Man

Yesterday I was sitting in the adjunct faculty office where about 40 people share three desks and three computers to hold our office hours. Two fellow employees were discussing their days and how their husbands were driving them crazy --- mostly for not doing their share of the work with the kids. They asked me if I wanted to join in their little male bashing. So I preceeded to tell them about how my husband had helped with the laundry, went to the grocery store for me, and did the dished for me this weekend. I had absolutely nothing to critize him on but could only brag about him!
I'm just so thankful for such an awesome husband who loves me so much! He makes my life so much more enjoyable! So if your husband is as wonderful as mine is, do something today to let him know how special he is!

Will this sickness ever end??

Since the beginning of February, it seems, I've been fighting a cold/cough/sore throat that just will not go away. I feel good one day and the next I feel absolutely rotten. Today is one of those rotten days.
I'm kind of in a bummer of a mood. I'm ready to feel good and have several days to relax. We just came off a weekend, but it was so jammed packed with meetings, chores and work that I didn't get a chance to slow down and relax and rest. Perhaps I need to take a couple of days off. But then there's the delemma --- If I take time off to relax, I know myself and I won't relax. I'll sit on the couch for an hour and then start feeling guilty about all the stuff that I should be accomplishing during that time. I'd probably end up working harder than if I just had went on with all my scheduled activities.
Ok, so enought whining about me.
Joel and I just finished watching the movie Mystic River. I haven't left a movie feeling so depressed and down for a long time. Such a sad and broken movie. After the movie we started talking about how we like to watch movies. Joel likes to be totally focused on the movie, and pauses for any slight distractions. I'm finding lately that I really don't enjoy watching movies that much. I don't like the stressful feelings they bring on while I watch, or all the emotions that I'm left with when their over. They've stopped being entertainment. I think I'd rather just listen to a good ole' Dean Martin CD of upbeat songs.
Wow -- this is such a random, chaotic message, but now I must go off to work!

Exciting News

Last night at work, the head of the Math Skills department, Todd, came up and asked me if I wanted to train this spring to be a Rover this summer. A Rover is somewhat a higher position in the Math Lab. They make sure everyone is where they are supposed to be and deal with more admistrative details. I was really suprized that he asked me since this is only my second full semester at LCC. Plus it will be nice to learn more about all the details and policies of the Math Lab. I find that sometimes just being an Instructor you miss out on those details. I get tired of having to find a coordinator or someone who knows all those details to help out a student. So I'm really excited about the new role!
While on the subject of work, last week I had a really cool conversation with a fellow co-worker. He came up to me and said he could see that there was something different about me --- by the way I interacted with other workers and with the students. So he knew I was a Christian. Then he proceeded to ask me how I deal with situation when someone asks "How can you know you are saved?". He explained a little more, saying that he knows he made a heartfelt decision to follow Christ years ago, but doesn't have much fruit in his life. Sometimes he doubts if his decision was really true. We didn't get to talk very much longer after that because we had to help some students, but I tried to encourage him to evaluate his decision and if he felt that it was true, then to begin taking small steps to move toward the way he would like his life to look.
Much more than math happens in the Math Lab!

Wonderful Valentine's Day

Today has been such a wonderful day! First, I had a great nights sleep --- no awaking due to coughing. I had a great workout while watching TV. Since Joel and I finally got our new TV in the basement, we moved the TV in our upstairs living room into our bedroom and the TV in our room to the workout room. We're hoping this encourages Joel to workout a bit more --- we'll see if it works or not. Then our basement furniture arrived and looks great!! (We got a red sofa and love seat that are nice and cushy!) Now to the best part --- Joel came home for lunch to see the new furniture and when he was getting ready to leave, he opened the door and there was a package inside the door. He sent me a dozen roses for Valentine's day!! I was so suprized and happy! --- especially because he thinks Valentine's day is a made-up holiday. I have such an awesome husband. I'd put a picture of them on here, but I'm not quite sure how to do that yet.

Well, I need to do a few more things before I head off to work. Have a great day!

Yeah! I'm now part of the blogging world!

Finally I get to be a cool kid and have a blog. Until recently, I haven't had internet at home and have been left out of a whole new realm of life --- the blog world. But really I was blogging before blogs began --- I just sent out weekly emails to all my friends and family via email, but this works much better. I just wonder how many of them will really ever check it.

Today was a great day. I was able to get a two hour nap in this afternoon --- this makes me sigh with pleasure. I greatly needed it after Joel and I switch the rooms our office and guest bedroom were in. We spent all morning lugging a bed, hutch, and a roll top desk among much smaller furnature between two rooms. All of this just so you can read this blog right now (we couldn't get internet in the old office, but I'll leave that whole discussion for another day).

The smell of shrimp in the oven is calling my name --- so I'm going to go have some dinner!