Sing For Joy

What do I call this one?

I could call this post, Sorry, I haven't written in so long-I could call it, Catch Up Time or I could say, It's about time!  Either way, I'm ready to do a quick post today and hopefully after our up coming trip, I'll have more to write about-and new pictures. 

Spring Break officially begins for us today when the girls get out of school!  We are all having dinner tonight at the home of Joe's boss and then heading out of town in the morning to visit friends and our old church in Little Rock, AR.  We moved away from there in 2001 and I'm excited about spending time there.  We hope to visit the President's Museum there.  We may not have agreed with everything he did while in office, but it's a part of history and should be interesting to see.  It will be the first Presidential Library and Museum I've ever been to.  We are spending a couple of nights in Dallas on the way home and that trip will include celebrating Joe's birthday on Wednesday and taking the girls to the American Girl Store. 

Life has been extra busy for me lately-with lots going on in our family as well-too much to put into a traditional post-so here are the bullets:

~I attended a working retreat for the Women's Ministry Teams in our church.  I am in charge of registration for the next big retreat.  We have one every two years and I'm excited about attending another one with the women of this church.  This one will take place in March of 2009. 

~I have been going back to the gym.  G, the wife of Joe's new boss and I meet there at least twice a week, sometimes 3 when our schedules allow, and I love how I feel when I go.  I have a lot more energy on those days.  On the days I don't go, if my schedule allows, I do a short DVD that came with the book You on a Diet.  It wasn't easy the first few times, but it is quite a workout in a short amount of time.  This is the longest I've stuck with a new workout routine in quite awhile.  We started going to the gym near the end of January.  I'm not yet really "seeing" the results I'd like to, but I am "feeling" them.  Does that make sense?

~Joe spent a week taking a class for work in Charleston, SC.  The week he was gone, we had thunderstorms, hail, sleet, snow, temperatures near 90 and temperatures below freezing-all in the span of 6 days.  He experienced heavy rain and the snow here delayed his trip home by one day.

~ We finished the Beth Moore Bible Study "Stepping Up."  Once again, I learned a lot and was moved by God working through her and through our small group sessions.  We are now taking a new one called "Living a Life of True Worship."  It's an introduction to Precepts study and I was concerned about the style of the work being tedious, but it hasn't been and I have learned so much already.

~I have been having great get togethers with my mentee.  The Mentoring Season ends April 10th with our Spring Banquet.  I was asked to sing that night and will be singing with my good friend C. 

~I really need to finish packing and cook the dish I'm taking tonight.  I'll be back after our trip with more.  I know you all can hardly wait. 

November 1st

November 1st is one of my favorite days of the year because it means Halloween is over.  Halloween is usually one of my least favorite days of the year, but last night was nice.  Trunk or Treat at the church was a big success and the girls had fun walking around from car to car playing games and getting candy with a group of friends.  They are growing up.  I felt better and even got a good sleep last night-only woke up once or twice very briefly and didn't have any major coughing spells.  I left the red-eye in E's picture from last night for the affect since she's a wolf.  G received many compliments for her Herbie driver costume-she was the only one we saw dressed like that last night.  Many boys were Darth Vader.  Once we were home from church and from making a quick stop at my parents' house, we returned home around 7:45 and only had 2 more groups of trick or treaters come to our door.  I should have left the bowl of candy on our porch while we were gone, then I wouldn't have any left over today. 

20 more days until my trip to New York!  14 more days until recitals.  NEXT MONTH MY HUSBAND COMES HOME!!!!!! 

More Updating

The night before Operation Inasmuch, I went out to dinner with 3 girlfriends.  I had not done that in a long time and it was so nice to eat a nice dinner and enjoy conversation with other women and not have to be interrupted by children every few minutes.  I had Grilled Salmon, Rice and Fried Spinach for dinner.  You are probably wondering if you read that right, yes I said Fried Spinach.  Somehow they take fresh spinach and flash fry it so that it comes out very thin and almost see through, with a delicious flavor.  Hopefully that process doesn't cook all the nutrients out of it.  We sat and talked and ate for 2 1/2 hours and I went home thankful for for my friends. 

Ellie was able to see her favorite movie of the summer again yesterday.  It was playing at our local "Dollar Theater" and her TEACHER took her to see it!  I really believe this is going beyond the call of duty, but Mrs. R. wants to do whatever she can to help Ellie and I'm very thankful for her.  Ellie did not talk to Mrs. R. yesterday, but their get together can only be a stepping stone in that direction.

Gracie attended a Mini Cheer Camp at the school for Kindergarteners through 4th graders yesterday.  It was 2 hours of learning cheers, dances and stunts and then they performed for the parents.  I was surprised she wanted to attend when the sign up sheet was sent home, but she convinced me and she had a great time.  Now she's interested in starting gymnastics.  It's something I never did and I think it would be good for her, whether or not she becomes a cheerleader when she's older.  I'm not sure her Dad would allow that though!

We're finally having cooler weather here and it feels like it should this time of year.  I love cooler weather.  Our first really cold night will be a little harder this year, since I won't have Joe here to snuggle up to and get warm.  Hopefully in about 7 weeks he'll be home for his week of training and 2 weeks of vacation!  There is so much on my calendar between now and then, that time should go by fast!  Next weekend I am playing for my mom to sing a solo at her best friend's daughter's wedding.  She will be singing In this Very Room.  I've also been in change of finding all the other musicians for this wedding-an organist, two flute players and a trumpet player.  It's makes me a little anxious knowing that if something happens with any of those people, the bride and or her mother will come to me about it.  The church where the wedding is taking place currently does not have an organist or a music director, so I was asked to do this way back in April.  In a lot of ways, I'll be glad when this wedding has come and gone.  I pray it ALL goes well.  That night, I'm accompanying one of my piano student who also takes voice.  She has been asked to sing at at local doctor's home who enjoys having occasional small recitals in his home of local performers.  It should be a lot of fun-at least once I'm done playing and can enjoy myself!  She is singing Caro Mio Ben and Pie Jesu.  L. is a sweet girl and will graduate from High School in the Spring.  She hopes to attend the same college I went too and I'm just a little bit happy about that! 

The next weekend I have only a birthday party for my girls to attend on my calendar.  I hope to use the rest of that weekend to start really getting ready for Joe's return and for Christmas.  I've done a lot of shopping already and even started wrapping gifts this weekend!  I'm glad to have some of the shopping done already, but it's not the same when there's no Christmas decorations out yet, and no Christmas music playing.  It will all be here soon, though.

The next weekend I'll be going to Asheville with my girls and my parents to the Biltmore House.  Mom loves to see it decorated for Christmas and this year we've decided to go and take the girls. 
That takes me up to Nov 12th.   Nov 21 I leave for a visit to New York with my best friend and roommate from college.  It will be the first time I've gone to New York to actually stay with her and spend so much time with her.  I'm very excited about this trip.  I'll get there on her birthday and we'll go out and celebrate that night.  Tuesday night we are seeing the new Broadway production of The Color Purple.  Wednesday we will go see the new movie Rent, based on the Broadway show.  Thursday we have tickets to get seats in the Grandstand to watch the Macy's Day Parade-right at the beginning of the Parade Route!  We"ll have a Thanksgiving Dinner that day with her good friends up there and I'll fly home on Friday.    I'm thankful to have a busy calendar and look forward to really slowing down during Joe's visit in December. 

Things I need to write about

And there are quite a few, but I'm too tired right now, so I'll just start a list and gradually get to each item.....

Operation Inasmuch
Joseph Martin
Dr. Jeff Myers
Girls night out
the weather
Christmas shopping
a woman in Arkansas who had her 16th child
a very scary report I saw on PrimeTime
Anderson Cooper's article about parents
Halloween
prayer requests
Amazing Race

that should give me some good inspiration for the next few days

Tomorrow the girls get out of school early. They will also get report cards.  My Mom and I are taking them to lunch and then to see the new movie Dreamer.    I'm so tired I can't type another thing.  Good night blogland.

day 2

After setting up my new blog last night, sleep was definitely in order, not adding all kinds of fun things to the site and figuring out to bring them over from my other blog.  If you go there, please, please, please, don't read the names of the "people" who left comments recently.  It's almost all horrible, horrible, spam and I hope that will not happen here.  So, now I sit covered in dust and dirt after raking pine straw to put in the flower beds and blowing the driveway and patio and carport with a super powerful blower-borrowed from my mom and step dad.  Must shower, buy groceries and enjoy my day off.  Will spend some time this weekend setting up here at my new "home."

Starting Fresh

Time for a new look and new host for my blog.  Hopefully this means less spam, more inspiration, more pictures, and who knows what else.