I Get It!

I've been a teacher now for what....six years? And even though I see "the public school teaching system" at its finest - and at its worst - it wasn't until I lived it through my daughter that I can honestly say "I Get It!"

Our public school is all about layering. Teach a layer in kinder.....refresh in 1st and teach a new layer......refresh in 2nd....teach a new layer....refresh and new layer....you get the picture. I've always seen that part in the grade I teach, but to see it being done to my own child? I'm amazed.

I'm simply amazed that the sight words of kindergarten are now becoming full fledge books (see above!) It's neat to see your child start reading....you just know it's about to open up a whole new world for them! Growing up, I was a huge Archie Comics book reader (judge me if you may) which then led to the Babysitter's Club series which led to Sweet Valley High (oh...and don't forget the classic "Are You There God, It's Me Margaret".....wasn't that a tween book if you ever saw one!) which led to the classic novels like To Kill a Mockingbird. So I'm superpsyched that Grace will maybe be reading the little Junie B. Jones chapter books by the end of the year. I'm already eyeing the Ramona Quimby series...... : )

Layering. Public school. Reading. No Child Left Behind. TAKS. Star. What have you. Either way, I know our public school isn't perfect, but I know it's doing a job many wouldn't do on their own. And a job that would be ten trillion times easier if the world were a less broken place.

So kudos to teachers all 'round. I need to get better at letting Grace's teacher know how good a job she's doing.....

Pullin' Out the Pumpkins!

The Great Pumpkin' Decorator

The 'ol blogosphere is probably exploding with mommas uploading their Fall photos...courtesy of the first real "fall-ish" day of the season! (We actually had to don our windbreakers today!) So my blog will be no exception.

We brought out the 'ol scarecrow thingy....hay bales are coming.....bought a few pumpkins (which Grace immediately turned into jack-o-lanterns!) and mums are about to be bought. I was told to wait another week on those (thank you to people who know more about plants than I do....which is nothing).

Fall is here and the timing is just about perfect - as always.

Sophie in on the Action

Grace and her Children

Boots. Bideo. Hubber.

20 Months and Counting

Boots. Bideo (video). Hubber (color).
Those are the three words Sophie says most often after school. She sometimes pairs them with,

"momma...hubber" - meaning, "mom color with me"

"baby bideo" - meaning, "I want to to watch the video with the babies" and

"boots" - meaning, "I want my boots on".

Sophie's kissable, huggable, lovable and is showing small signs of being like me. She likes to keep things in order......for instance, when she gets out of the bathtub, she'll take extra pains to put the cloth back where it goes, the soap in the corner, etc. Playing "night, night" with her babies, momma, daddy, or sissy is one of her favorites....she'll force you to lay down, cover you with a blanket, then slap your back so hard you'd swear you've been put to bed by the "no wire hangers" momma. She loves to "eat, eat" but is super picky still (very not like me!) And, most importantly, she's feisty, yet will still pucker up for kisses and hugs at her whim.

You gotta love her. She's just too much.

Meet Nabakoza. She Met God.

I watered my plants today. I used a 2 quart container, filled it to the top, and soaked the green plant the best I could. That plant received more love and attention than this little girl has received in her entire life.

Until now.

Nabakoza went to be with the Lord after suffering in Uganda for more than 23 years. She weighed 31 pounds. Neglected, abused, and witheld from food because of her disabilities. Through the work of some twenty-somethings who have made their life a testimony to God's call to help the "least of these", Amazima Ministries and Serving His Children are helping babies......orphans.....children like these find a new life with Christ. And hopefully a better life while here on earth.

I'm praying right now about the opportunity I have to visit these ministries in Uganda in the Summer 2011. It's not a question of whether I want to go. I'm going to be 100% honest and say it's not a financial aspect that's keeping me from going. Nor a time aspect. Not really even the fact that I'll be leaving my own babies and family for a while.

I'm scared of what I'll see and how it will affect me. If going to a simple GA camp....or Youth Camp here in the states makes you come back on this "high" of sorts. I can't imagine what coming face to face with real things like starvation. AIDS. Dysentery. Malaria. etc., etc., etc., etc,. will do.
I can only imagine.

Reading Nabakoza's story makes me sad. And regrettably, mad. I'm a God-follower who follows God without question, but I have them. Why would He create this lovely human being to live in squallor like that? My heart aches........

Pray for me, please. I feel like there's a mountain I'm going to have to climb when I get back. Dealing with all sorts of issues....our own materialism and focus. Why do I have to water my lawn when there's no water for babies? Why did I have to throw that _____ away? Look at me, Lord. Look at my shallowness.

I hopefully will keep Nabakoza in my mind through all of it. She's dancing with God right now in a whole, new magnificent body that's forever lasting. Her suffering pales in comparison to the joy she has now. It was all worth it, I'm sure.....

Picture Day!

We got up earlier just so we could straighten her hair for her 1st grade picture day! A clip instead of a big bow like last year. The girl is growin up.

Of course, her sister couldn't resist having an early mornin' picture of her own! Practicing those smiles, of course!

Mavis & Harriet = Fabulous Finds!

So....for a gal like me who wishes she had the time to wake up early Thursday, Friday mornings and go filter through all the estate sales of the weekend....finding the Mavis & Harriet blog was so fun! This sweet lady lives close by and does all the scaveging for me, and then sells her finds on her blog for super cheap!

Now, not everything is a keeper for me, but she does have interesting items come up every now and then that make me say, "Hmmmmm... how would that look in my (fill in the blank)" I haven't bought anything yet, but I have inquired. A chandelier that was too small it turned out. But pretty she was.

I told my husband the other night that I really long to purchase a junk piece of furniture and spend some time refinishing, repainting, glazing or something.....making it shine again. I refurbished an old side table of mine here a while back, and found it pretty cathartic. And I'd love to do it - soon.

Maybe one day I'll be the owner of "Boog and Flo's" full of restored/repainted furniture.

But Boog & Flo's sounds more like a diner, huh?

Swell.

Aggie Days!

It was Boog's Class of 2000 reunion and also the kickoff game to the Fightin' Texas Aggies 2010 football season. So of course, we had to go! Thanks to family, we were able to have a kid-less weekend and be able to just sit back, relax, and enjoy our friends....and a quiet backseat on the car ride up there!

I love Aggieland. It holds so many special memories and is a reminder of a place, where even with 40,000 students, you can go off as a kid and become an adult. I never thought those days would make such an impact on my life, but they have. I gained confidence in myself and that put forth so many opportunities I never thought possible. It's a huge reason why I encourage ALL kids to the heck out of their parents domain and go off to college!! : )

Thanks Steph for the photos!

My college roomate and I....reliving the Bird.

Since God Knows My Mind...

I wonder what He thinks about my very non-eternal thoughts? I re-watched some of the movie "Amazing Grace" (really great rental btw) a few weeks ago and loved how William Wilberforce "delighted himself" in God's creation. He sat amongst the dew and butterflies and well....was giddy to no end. His thoughts were only on God's beauty and the wonder of it all. (If I ever did that, I'm absolutely sure one of my children would think mommy had drunk a few too many capri suns.)

So.........it begs the question. Since God does know my thoughts, I wonder how He likes 'em. Because most of the time I'm thinking one of these things......

1) Can I survive the day with my students?......

2) What's left in our Dave Ramsey budget for the month?...... (I'm always keeping on top of our finances due to the fact that we've worked so long and hard to become Dave Ramsey Debt Free.....it's pretty much just a habit now to keep track.)

3) How can I decorate my bedroom (or house or whatever) without spending a fortune? Yes, very important stuff........

4) Did I do everything I "need" to do? .........between packing lunches, football schedules, keeping up with Sophie, and signing Grace's charts everyday....oh my.

5) Is my car clean?........I haven't had nice car in a long time, so I'm trying a lot harder.

6) What is my house out of that I need at the grocery store?.......HUGE part of my thoughts.

7) Why am I not working harder to stay in shape?........

I'm not kidding. 98% of the day this is what's on my mind. (OH...add one more. 8)What's for dinner?...)

The other 2% is thankful for every breath I take, my health, and my family's health and happiness. But who has time to really stop and take it all in? Every now and then I do, but not nearly as much as I should.

So, Lord, my prayer is please forgive me for the lack of attention I pay You. I know I'm human. But I should still delight myself in Your ways and wonder and blessing and overall GRACE and MERCY! Sheesh, Flo. It's the least I can do.

Round Top Ready!

I'm already excited about my 3rd Annual Highschool Girls Weekend coming up in a few weekends. Yes....I'm super ready to dish with all the girlfriends sans the hubs or kiddos. Yes....I'm super ready to just be "flo" and not "momma flo" or "wifey flo" or "teacher flo" for a weekend.

But YES I'm so ready for our trip to Roundtop Antiques Fair in Roundtop Texas!! It's been years since I've been and I've sorely missed it. If you've never heard of it, think "First Monday" but bigger....not so crafty....loads more furniture & decorative items that aren't "cutesy"......antiques and special pieces galore! (But it only happens twice a year.)

Photos from booths like such make me drool. Literally. I'm drooling right now.

Oh my heavens and stars.....look at the patina on this cupboard.

One of these for my bathroom one day please!!!

I could do a million things with that blue sideboard.

Ladies. I can't wait to see you. And I can't wait to steal a few beauties from Roundtop!