Rainy Daydreaming

**DISCLAIMER: I FOUND THIS POST IN THE DRAFT SECTION OF MY BLOG: IT SHOULD'VE BEEN POSTED IN APRIL OF 2015!**

When I was little, I would go through the home section of the Belk and Sears catalogs and tear out pictures of different rooms and put them all together to make my "house." Now, with Pinterest, I do that same thing but with more categories besides just the house- its pretty much my online dream land.

For example:

I swoon over this girls hair color...and her hair in general. Mine is way to fine and thin to grow out into those luscious locks, so I just gaze at her picture. I'm also trying to hold off on hair color until its absolutely necessary. One day the gray will creep in....for now I can hold out.

Pinterest: Source Unknown

Welcome to my dream breakfast nook/eating area. Can you imagine what these white chairs would be covered with in real life? Probably cat hair and spaghetti sauce. 

Source:http://fortheloveofahouse.blogspot.com

If you see these shoes anywhere...let me know. I'm all about that green.

Source: www.flickr.com/photos/borsmano/2449437109/in/pool-739406@N20/

Come on over...we'll grill out and have a glass of wine on my "patio"

Source: http://georgianadesign.tumblr.com/post/65047824282/thompson-custom-homes-houston

My favorite childhood cereal turned snack munch!! I bet its magically delicious. 

Welcome, 2016

I recently heard from a wise person: Writing is a discipline just like anything else. It really hit me because I feel it will have to be that way for me to continue blogging.  A discipline. As much joy as blogging brings me, I've been in a bit of a writing rut lately. Part of it is letting myself think too much about the audience. You just can't do that. When I started, the audience wasn't a factor and my writing flowed freely. I wrote about small things and didn't wait for more substantial and blog-worthy events to come along. I need to go back to what it was.

So far 2016 hasn't been as much of a success as I'd hoped. It started it off with Grama in the hospital with Pneumonia and A-Fib, among other things. I've been watching way too much TV. I've gained 3 pounds. And the best part is I don't have much motivation to change it right now! Welcome, 2016.

I found this quote yesterday and it will be my theme for the new year. This is what I need:

                                 

Rekindle

Time to rekindle my spirit. I saw an article on Facebook a while back that struck a chord with me. It deals with the time of Lent when many Christians give up something that they normally enjoy as a means of clearing away worldly distractions and to drawing closer to God. Unfortunately, as this article states, "these things often have little impact on our life and our walk with Christ." In the past I've given up things like...peanut butter...Facebook....sometimes nothing at all. Most times it has done nothing to enhance my faith. I'm sure my attitude in doing so was the main issue, but this year I would like to try something new. I realize it is nowhere near time for Lent, but I would like to use this article more as a goal for the new year.

There are 40 topics on which to focus, one for each day of Lent. In my case, one for each....week? day? month? Not sure how I want to direct my energy at this point, but I know that these are all areas that could use some refining in my life...and probably in yours as well. If you're human, I bet you struggle with most of these just like I do.

Here are some examples: Focus on giving up.....fear of failure, your comfort zone, feelings of unworthiness, impatience, people pleasing, comparison, etc. The list goes on. I will post link at the bottom  of this post if you want to join me in giving up some of these evils that keep us from having joy in our lives. Its going to take effort for sure, but I'm willing to give it a shot.

I think I will start tomorrow.

Click HERE for the link.

Holiday Cheer and Happy 60th to Dad

This morning I woke up feeling thankful. I'm sipping an Arctic White hot chocolate Christmas gift from one of my students and realizing that I am off work until January 4th. Its going to be glorious. Reflecting on the last week of school, I am so grateful for all the sweet students we have and the relationships I have with the wonderful people I work with. Blessed for sure. Everyone has been so GIVING this season. I, on the other hand, have not been a very good steward of my time and have not done nearly as much as I would like to in terms of gift giving and holiday cheer. I'm going to play the "new house" card again and blame it on that. It really threw me off my routine and that's not good because I am a creature of habit. Must be the special ed teacher in me.

Today will be a great day for 2 reasons: A) I am finally getting back into my beloved yoga studio for a "Sanctify the Season" practice. It is a special yoga class " sprinkled with scripture, Christian meditative prayer, and plenty of sweat." Some of my favorite things all in one place. B) Its my dad's 60th birthday! Hard to believe...he sure doesn't seem 60. I wish you many, many, many more years of everything that makes you happy!

Before Christmas is over, I wanted to share some of my favorite door decorations from our school hallways. These made me laugh...If you notice, the sign 'Dancer' the reindeer is holding says, "watch me Nae Nae."

Help Fund My Class!

Hi Friends, 

Now through November 30th, any donation you make to my classroom project request on DonorsChoose.org will be doubled (up to $100). I need your help to get my students the materials they need to succeed! 

Here's the project: 

Laptop for Reading and Writing Support 

To have your donation matched, enter the promo code SPARK on the payment screen. This offer is good through November 30th! 

My students and I would be so grateful for your support! 

Caroline 

PS: After today, you can still donate up until March 31st, the donations just won't be matched. 

Homeowner

Hey blog world. I've been out of the loop for awhile now. So mad at myself for missing the month of October! I'm going to give myself an excuse though because that's the month I became a HOMEOWNER. My days were spent sifting through cardboard boxes, loading my car to capacity with stuff from my old place, and trying desperately to give all of my "stuff" a home in the new house. Now that November is almost over, I'm realizing that its going to take a LOOONNGGG time for everything to find a space here. I also realize that I need to get rid of a a few things. I'm also realizing that the office and my dining room table will be a catch-all at least until this summer. I'm going to have to be okay with that.

The first thing I wanted to do was put paint on the walls, so I got the foyer done as soon as I moved in. They went from this lovely shade of Butter Cream Yellow to a much more livable Revere Pewter. Now I'm at a dead standstill. 

The living room is some-what in place (other than the paint & the blinds/curtains ). Its turning out to be a cozy little home!

I'll post more as the projects continue!

I Know You Can Relate

When I came home from school today around 5:00, I decided to take a "quick nap." I set my alarm for an hour....that should leave me feeling refreshed....

Next thing I know, I'm waking up and my phone tells me its 8:15. Immediate freak out mode. My thought process went something like this: "I'm supposed to be covering a class for another teacher this morning!! It started at 7:55!!" My heart was pounding.

 I ran to the closet and pulled on some jeans (dress down Friday). I glanced at my phone and saw that there was a missed call and voicemail from school. I could not imagine how badly I must've thrown off the schedule today...they must've had to find someone to cover for the class that I was supposed to cover. A double cover! Everyone was going to be so irritated with me. I called the school and while it was ringing I tried to think of what I could say to sugar coat the issue. Nothing. My brain still wasn't firing on all cylinders. I hung up....walked around in circles.....called the school back. I was so flustered I didn't even know what to say. I hung up and went to call the assistant principal to beg for mercy and tell him I was on the way.

Then I realized.......What? PM! Oh dear God its PM. It was just a nap. Its not morning. I'm not in trouble.

 The missed call from school was only a routine call-out/recording from the secretary informing everyone about PTA next week. What a mess...I was really tired......

You can relate, right?