First Quarter has been a blur!

When I last posted we were in teacher inservice and the excitement for the new school year was high.  Since then everything has been a whirlwind.  My room has a "news theme" and do we have many exciting things happening daily! 

We hit the ground running in English and have just completed reading Wuthering Heights.  The story has always intrigued me, although many consider it a negative tale lacking in inspiration.  However, I consider it such a good example of the antithesis of true romance that it does inspire.  I heard recently that Louis L'Amour said something like "It is not what you read, but what you read that makes you think." 

This classic work written by a preacher's daughter definitely made us think!! 

Here is my little teacher's nook.  I have made it cozy complete with a lamp and Grandma's wicker bench!!  Yes, the faithful bench now serves many purposes in my classroom.  This week I had a small group Bible study with 9 girls.  I pulled out the bench, sat on it and told my infamous love story again.  (Sigh!)  It never gets old.  Precious memories! 

Last week we traveled to Murfreesboro for the TACS Educators' Convention.  I presented two workshops:  "Using Reader's Theater to Create Classroom Characters" and "Is Your Classroom Dull or Dynamic?"  Although I agonize over the preparation, I love "game day."  Both workshops were so much fun.  Here is my cast of "volunteer" actors in the RT workshop.  The one guy is playing "Johnny Appleseed."  He was a hit!  He and the entire cast did a fabulous job and helped to make the workshop a great success.

In addition to teaching seven classes, I am also heavily into preparing for our upcoming fall play.  This year we are presenting a mystery comedy called "It Was a Dark and Stormy Night."  Here is how we are presently holding rehearsals . . .in my room with minimal staging.  One day Arabella (above in the blue shirt)  had to leave early, so I doned her hat and glasses and jumped into the role with gusto (see next pic).  I just realized that we are both holding our arms the same way!!  Kaylee is going to be an actress . . . she reminds me of "Kristy Carlson" as a senior!:)

I always am amused when my students are surprised at my acting antics.  It does help them understand more what I mean to act in character at all times!!  We are having such fun.  The play is not until November, but volleyball and cross country occupy much of their time.  We have to practice in short increments for a long time in order to be ready for production.  I found out recently that my parents will be here for my play!  I'm so excited.  After a long week, I'm planning to recuperate and regroup this weekend.  My college speech class starts on Monday night.  God is so good to allow me to be involved in so many opportunities. 

Teacher Inservice

We are back to work!  Last week we spent several days in workshops and group discussions.  The students came on Thursday to register for their classes.  It looks like our enrollment is up, and all the students are excited for school tomorrow!  This week we have had several training sessions.  Yesterday we received training in CPR. Here I am resuscitating my buddy "Fred." 

Here is Mrs. Todd excited that she applied the AED correctly.  Heather and I are teaching together in the math department.  She is no longer the rookie teacher -- we have a new teacher this year that is taking her title.

Here are several of the elementary teachers

taking a break from the CPR training. 

Here is Mr. Harmon, our fearless administrator.  Mr. Harmon has brought our school into the 21st century with computer technology galore! 

We had to report for computer training today. 

Happy teachers logging onto the new Windows 7 software

that we received from a grant given to our school.

Hopefully we will have everything up and running for our first day tomorrow.

Mr. Long is the IT man that has worked countless hours setting up the new computers and systems. 

 We are so thankful for his expertise.

Beautiful Morning for Breakfast on the Deck

We made my mom's Great Aunt Alma's waffle 
recipe this morning.

We used delicious Hillsdale maple syrup, 
a gift from Aunt Cheryl and Uncle Dwight.

Beautiful morning to enjoy food, 
fellowship and good coffee on the deck.

The golfers were out as well.  
You can see them in the top right of this picture.

I persuaded my mom to let me take her picture to prove she was eating with us as well.  We took a walk after breakfast, and now I'm packing up getting ready to head home.  
What a wonderful time it has been!

Special Visit with Sara

I added my blog address to face book because I didn't know if anyone was reading. . . besides my mom, cousins and aunts.  I received so many encouraging messages, that I have been inspired to increase my entries.  Once I return home and get back into the swing of things of school, I will make this more along the lines of teaching, acting, communication, productions... you know, all the things I love to do.  However, for a few more days I want to relish in summer fun with family and friends.

This week has continued to be relaxing.  I've come to the office with my parents for three of the five days.  I've worked on speech and drama classes.  I'm teaching junior high speech for the first time, so I'm developing all new lessons.  Should be fun!

On Tuesday my parents loaned me their car and I drove to Raleigh for a visit with my dear cousin and friend, Sara.  We had a delightful afternoon catching up, reminiscing, and laughing.  It is so wonderful that Sara and Dave live only about an hour away from my parents.  They have a lovely home and three adorable children.   We have decided that we will make this an annual event since we hadn't gotten together for three years.  I just wished I lived closer to more of my cousins.  Since I don't have sisters, my "girl cousins" are my sisters. 

All the World's a Stage

I have slightly altered the name of my blog to be "All the World's a Stage" which is directly quoted from William Shakespeare's As You Like It.  I am preparing my new courses for the year.  In drama class we will be quoting and using this famous quote in one of our first class periods.  Although some would argue that Shakespeare's meaning is deterministic, I like to teach the quote from a Biblical worldview.  We are on a stage and just as an actor has an audience, so also a hurting world is watching. 

How will we perform and will we finish well?

Because I love acting and Shakespeare, I enjoy discussing and pondering upon this thought.  As a Christian drama director/teacher it is my desire for students to use the "stage" that God gives them to glorify Him.  This has and will continue to be my mission as I continue to train servant performers

"...that in all things He might have the preeminence." Col. 1:18b

All the world's a stage,

And all the men and women merely players:

They have their exits and their entrances;

And one man in his time plays many parts,

His acts being seven ages. At first the infant,

Mewling and puking in the nurse's arms.

And then the whining school-boy, with his satchel

And shining morning face, creeping like snail

Unwillingly to school. And then the lover,

Sighing like furnace, with a woeful ballad

Made to his mistress' eyebrow. Then a soldier,

Full of strange oaths and bearded like the pard,

Jealous in honour, sudden and quick in quarrel,

Seeking the bubble reputation

Even in the cannon's mouth. And then the justice,

In fair round belly with good capon lined,

With eyes severe and beard of formal cut,

Full of wise saws and modern instances;

And so he plays his part. The sixth age shifts

Into the lean and slipper'd pantaloon,

With spectacles on nose and pouch on side,

His youthful hose, well saved, a world too wide

For his shrunk shank; and his big manly voice,

Turning again toward childish treble, pipes

And whistles in his sound. Last scene of all,

That ends this strange eventful history,

Is second childishness and mere oblivion,

Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything.

Fun Times in NC

Well, I have been in North Carolina for a week now. I have looked forward to this trip all summer. Brian had to stay home and work, but he was very supportive of me spending this time with my family. I like this picture of my dad because he has had a rough couple of weeks. He had surgery on July 15 to remove a tumor from his bladder. All went well until it was discovered through much pain that he was experiencing that he had a perforation in his bladder. When I arrived last Tuesday he was still pretty weak. It has been encouraging to see him gain his strength throughout the week and even be able to get out for the morning service on Sunday. He wore his Father's Day tie that Brian picked out especially for him.

Another highlight was that Kirk was here when I arrived. When I found out he was spending his vacation in NC, I scheduled my trip to overlap with his. He arrived the day Pop had his surgery and was such a help through the whole ordeal. I'm glad he was here because he has more experience with medical matters than me. We had fun relaxing and fellowshipping for a few days with him.

Kirk and Mom were the action team for Pop's medical care. Mom came to get me at the airport and Kirk stayed with the patient at home.

On Wednesday we had a lovely family dinner and I made the infamous stromboli as requested by everyone. I found out many family and friends love that dish as well. My cousin Sara made it the same night we did! More pictures and adventures to follow. . .

Wonderful Summer Days

Time to update the blog. I have been enjoying these summer weeks so much. Of course, it always takes a little time to recover from the incredibly busy school year. Then Brian and I took a vacation to Savannah, Georgia and spent some time on Tybee Island as well. What a refreshing time of rest and relaxation. Over the last few weeks I've enjoyed working on projects at home--mostly cleaning, cleaning out and organizing.

Brian has also taken several Fridays off and so we have enjoyed vacationing around Chattanooga. His sister Cindy and family have been here from Texas. We had a big cookout at our house last week and celebrate the 4th by going to the fireworks downtown.

I will leave on the 20th for North Carolina to spend time with my family. Kirk will be visiting at that time as well. We always have a great time together.

Inservice will begin at Berean on August 4. This will be the first year we have a fall break. Although I'm looking forward to a break in the midst of a busy fall, it does require us to start earlier than we ever have. This year I'll have a full schedule teaching Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry, English 11/12, Speech, Drama and Jr. High speech. Whew! It makes me tired just typing the list.

However, I love my ministry and the Lord always enables me to get it all done.

For fun I have been spending much time at our fitness center, the Rush, trying to get in better shape. Whew! It is tough, but it feels so good after making it through a tough workout. Brian and I also spend much time relaxing at our favorite coffee shops in town -- Remembrandts, Starbucks and Stone Cup. We even found a neat one in Savannah that we frequented several times a day called the Gallery Espresso. The picture of Brian relaxing in this coffee shop is very typical of him.

Next week I'll be working in our church's vacation Bible school as a team leader. I have also started teaching another quarter of my college speech class. This quarter I have 20 students which is a big group. Please pray that I'll be a shining testimony for the Lord. I shared on the first night as I was telling about myself that the most important decision I ever made was accepting Jesus Christ as my personal Savior. It is about all I can say about my faith publicly in class, however now I'm able to show them Jesus through the joy He gives me. I am so thankful for this opportunity.

Hope you are having a good summer. I'll try to post more updates now that I can take pictures with my phone!!:)

Fabulous Spring Break!

Well, I decided it was time to change the Christmas pictures. Enough is enough! No, really it has been very busy these past few months and unfortunately it wasn't top priority. After we completed the TACS competition on Friday, March 26, spring break started. Brian and I celebrated our 13 anniversary on Monday, March 29 and I have spent the week regrouping. We have gone out with several friends and spent a lovely evening downtown at our favorite coffee shop. We are looking forward to a wonderful Easter with Brian's family. How blessed we are that Jesus Christ came to earth to die for our sins. Hallelujah, He is risen!

Tracy and her sister Kayla met us this afternoon for a wonderful time of fellowship. We have so many former students who are our "children." How blessed we are to have had a part in their lives. I love to keep in touch with them through Facebook and getting together like this. It has been a wonderful week.

Beautiful Valentine's Day Flowers

I know that it has been almost a week since Valentine's Day. We had a wonderful day together.

I love it when special days are on the weekend because we get to spend all day together. Brian has been sick quite a bit over the last few weeks. He was so sweet and ordered these beautiful flowers for me. He hadn't been out of the house all week, but on Saturday he told me he had somewhere he had to go. When he pulled into Joy's Flowers (where we got our wedding flowers) I knew what he was up to. What a great guy!:)

Brian's Ottoman

As I'm working on accessorizing the bonus room, Brian let me know that he needed a "foot rest" when he sits on the couch. I told him that it would have to fit the overall look of the room. The room isn't very big, so we got this cube style ottoman. It has wheels on the bottom so it can be wheeled over to a corner when it isn't in use. It is leather which Brian really likes. He even invited me to take his picture while he was watching his game. So cute!:)

Bonus Room Progress

I got this new sofa in the bonus room and am working to accessorize the room. I love the striped pillow. Today I got the throw and am contemplating how they all go together. I have several more square pillows on order to pick up the red and the yellow. I have to bring things home to get the visual.

Snow Days

We are in the middle of another southern snowstorm. In fact, they have already cancelled all church services at our church for tomorrow. I can't believe it! I think this is the first church that I have ever attended where they have cancelled the entire day of services--only in the South!:)

We did get out for a few hours today and did a little shopping. I have this ottoman in the living room that needs a little spicing up. I have taken pictures of two options using different throws. I told my parents that I would be posting these pics for their opinion as to which one looks better. Feel free to let me know your opinion.

Option #1 -- Throw with purple, gold, green, etc.

This is a small sofa that I got a slip cover for. I wrote more about it at the end.

Option #2 for the ottoman is a simple but elegant tan throw

We have had the small sofa in our bonus room for a long time. The tapestry fabric has faded with sunlight and wasn't really fitting in any where any more. So with a Pottery Barn slipcover we have transformed it to fit into our bedroom. I got one pillow cover and the other two are on back order. (One will be floral and the big one will be a color called "Tumbleweed") I'm so excited that we can still use the sofa. It is still comfy!

A Magical Cutlan Christmas

After spending a delightful Christmas day with the Walkers, we headed to Atlanta to fly to Minneapolis. We arrived just in time to head to Greg and Becky's in Stillwater. They have a beautiful home and they had a wonderful evening planned for us.

Here I am with my special cousins and sister-in-law. They are all my "sisters" and very dear to me. Dana, Ali and I have always been the only girls on the Cutlan side and so we are so glad to have Jen join us.


We had a lovely dinner in the loft of the "carriage house" which houses the Porshe. Jen shows off the classy wheels.

Upstairs in the loft there was an adorable little doll house that Mom and I had to examine. There were many delightful things to examine and "ooh" and "aah" over.

Brian and I had a cozy moment by the Christmas trees in the loft.

What a wonderful evening we had with our loved ones.

Christmas Pictures

We have had a wonderful Christmas season. Here are a few more pictures from when my parents were with us before they headed north. We sure enjoyed having them in our neck of the woods!

Mom and I were both sick over the weekend. So even though we have matching smiles, we weren't quite our perky selves. We did manage to shop a little on Monday and that brought definite healing!