Easter Weekend

This was (still is for a few more hours) a nice, relaxing, wonderful weekend. I started a new journal:). Leah came home:) She came to work with me Friday and spent the afternoon observing and learning. We went on a walk and went to Chipotle (with Scott). Saturday we went shopping:) I go the most perfect jeans! Size 10! And more fabulous, colorful socks. I even ordered some keen sandals that I can wear for my water jog class this summer. Today Leah went to church with us and it was good. We had a nice meal both Sturday evening (salmon, corn on the cob, sweet potatoes and asparagus) and today (ham, augratin potatoes, salad and strawberry shortcake). After Leah went home, I picked up Adelle. We grabbed a few items at the grocery store, colored eggs, looked at her facebook (she refused to friend her oldest sister and her dad) and she sat on the front step while I planted my wave petunias. Scott and I sat on the back patio in the sun for awhile this afternoon too. The windows are still open and there is a nice breeze. I loved having Leah home. Joel will be home in a few short weeks and school will be out! Hannah is coming home the first week of summer. I want to spend some time with Shari whom I haven't even talked to (or texted or facebooked or anything!) in forever. I want to get some sun and work out in a relaxed way. I want to go to Newton and hang out with Leah. I want to drive up to Wyoming and hike in the mountains and maybe camp. I would LOVE to drive Joel back to school in August or fly him there and see his apartment but not sure that will happen. Looking forward to the MCC girls season, getting to know them better, getting involved in that ministry. I am sooooo happy that I know Jesus as my Savior and He's there helping me, guiding me, loving me every single day. I just check my voice messages and Hannah sang me an Easter song:) Happy Easter!

Technology

I am really into technology. I have a laptop, ipod and a smart phone. I google, facebook, tweet, blog. But technology does not like me. If there is a problem to be had, it will happen to me. Music on my itunes disappears. My facebook account kicks me out every 10 seconds. I got a virus on my computer. I can't get the printer to work. I am always frustrated with technology. I have never had my email hacked, thank goodness, like mom recently did. Why can't it work like its supposed to?

An Amazing Day

God is good because He knew after a hard week, I needed a perfect day. So I slept til 9 and got up and had my quiet time. Scott got up and was working on a paper for his class. He wanted me to tell him what his conflict style at home is. Ha Ha! You want the whole list? Yes! So I did. Which led to a long discussion, working stuff out that was good to talk out. Like free marraige counseling. So I did some laundry, took a shower, got some warm sweats on (my favorite USC sweatshirt in cheery yellow). Did I mention the sun was shining after a rainy Friday? I went to the grocery store. I still think its fun to get just the food we need for the week, all healthy, no extras or junk. Two bananas, two apples, two oranges, salmon, sweet potatoes, chicken, kashi cereal, almond milk, stuff like that. Only $139 all told! I got home and ate some pretzels and natural peanut butter and took a nap! The weather warmed up to shorts weather. Then I picked up Adelle and we headed to the mall. On the way, we saw a sign for a car wash for the family of the boy who was killed this week so we went. What a great idea! The grieving kids needed something to DO to help and here they were raising money for his family. His sister was there, his girlfriend was there, his footbal teammates were there, and tons of friends. There were hugs all around. Adelle even hugged Tyler's girlfriend for a really long time. I got tears in my eyes. Come to think of it, I don't think I've ever seen Adelle hug anyone. She helped wash cars and had a wonderful time. Then we went to the mall and I tried on new shoes. I usually don't like getting new shoes for the gym because I end up spending too much and get ones similar to the ones I always get. This time, there were so many cute new styles out. I bought some black reeboks with hot pink soles and hot pink inside that shows through some. And they were about a third the cost of what I usually get! So I got some fun short socks in hot bright colors too! We went to the house and hitched up the dogs and walked down to old stadium where there was a soccer game with some of the MCC girls Scott will be coaching. He was there too. I saw an old friend and she liked talking with Adelle. We stayed for about half an hour then walked back to the house. I forgot to mention that on the way, we found $15 laying on the sidewalk with no one to give it back to, so I gave it to Adelle. Rex also pooped in a yard and we picked it up with a paper cup and laughed together about poop in a cup. At the house, we looked at Adelle's facebook page and she got choked up over a wall post about Tyler. We went to Target and I got some great deals on the things I needed--fun paper plates and napkins in bright colors for entertaining that were $1.50 a package! I needed some more work out shirts and they were $7.95 so I got a white one, a grey one with flowers and a dark grey one. I got some hot pink nail polish and some sunglasses --white with flowers on them like the ones I got a few years ago at Urban Outfitters that broke. Adelle bought herself a brownie with her own money (the money we found) and she liked that. I took her home and then made teriyaki chicken and brown rice. I was in such a good mood I let Scott listen to his country music while I cooked. He bought a stool and he likes sitting at the kitchen island with his computer to do his homework. After dinner we walked to Radinas where we are sitting right now at our computers! And the girl with the annoying loud voice left! What a good day!

feeling

Feeling the need to blog then a good workout after. A crazy day at work. You may have heard on the news, 14 year old teen found dead near my school. Yep, went to my school last year. And now another kid that went to my school last year is arrested for doing the killing. Shot the kid in the head. Possibly over a stupid conflict. This is why we do what we do at Eisenhower but we can't control the choices they make when they leave us. We work hard to give kids a safe place to come when there is a conflict or bullying situation and we work hard not to minimize it and to help them resolve it. Because when you don't, this is the nonsense that can happen. So I spent the morning doing crisis counseling with all the hurting, hurting kids and staff who loved this kid. And others who weren't close but just feel a real loss of innocence. Yes, this is a world where two 14 year old kids can't work out a conflict over something small and it results in a dead kid in a field. Unbelievable.

Spring Break part three plus some more

The final part of Spring Break was grey, cold, blah, boring and sort of lonely.

Last week was a crazy blur, busy at work, busy at home.

Thursday night went to Junction to watch the girls win over Wichita West 4-0. Fun times.

Friday night met Scott at the Manhattan-Olathe North game and sat with the JC team AND the new MCC team girls! It was so fun! We had both teams over for cheesecake and pizza and good times. I really like the MCC girls so that is going to be a blast.

Scott got accepted to grad school this week. Everything is coming together for him. The recruiting is already going amazingly well with Rachel Lease that he's coached for years and just loved committing this week to come play. She came over Friday night to meet the girls too.

Then yesterday Scott wanted to go to Wichita to see one of his new players for next year--the goal keeper for Maize high school. He dropped me off with Leah and went on in to Wichita to watch her game and meet her parents and get to know her. He was very impressed. Leah and I had a wonderful time! We got food at her favorite restaurant--Chong's and ate it picnic style by the river. Then we went to David's brother's house and babysat one year old Colin. We took him for a long walk and then DAvid's mom came over. We went back to the mod and went downtown but everything was closed. I love to spend time with Leah and it was extra good to get some one to one time.

Today I got Adelle and we went to the library and grocery store and then came over here and made a facebook page for Adelle. (With her mom's permission--I am keeping the passwords). So we sent a friend request to about 15 people starting with the gal she considers her best friend and a boy she talked about constantly last year. They responded and confirmed immediately along with several others. When I got home from Bible study just now, I needed to open my email and her new one popped up and I cried as I saw a page and a half of friend confirmations and requests. She is going to be so unbelievable excited! She also started in special olympics track this week and I asked her how it was going. Her response: "Insanely good!" She had so much fun on facebook putting in her favorite sports teams, players, and commentators. Her friend, John, said "Yessss! Are you on facebook?!" and she answered, "Yes, as of today, thank you very much." Amazing.

Off to paint my nails, maybe call mom real quick, pay some bills, send some birthday cards to nephews, etc.

Spring Break Part 3, A Blank Page

Thursday morning I got up and went to step class at the gym. It felt so good! Finally! I had long quiet time at home and got some chores done including the fafsa corrections online. I went to the doctor for my tendonitis in my elbow and to get some allergy nose spray, then I made a salad and met scott over at the Wright's for a soccer barbeque (jc girls). It was fun but I ate way too much--two hot dogs, two servings baked beans, a least twelve cookies and some ice cream. And I had just eaten popcorn when I went over there! We played kinnect (I beat scott in a dance off) and apples to apples. The weather outside was very strange last night--thunder, lightening and sleet. I read and went to bed early ish. This morning, scott was at the fire department. I was excited as I got up and realized that today was an entire blank page to fill with whatever I wanted to do. I slept until 9 and had a looong quiet time (joyce meyer, Bible study, prayer journal) in my pjs. I folded some laundry, painted my finger and toenails pink, and made a grocery list. I cleaned out a closet then took a bunch of blankets to the animal shelter and some junk to grand ol trunk. It always feels great to clean out and get rid of stuff! Scott called as I was at the grocery store and wanted me to do some errands for him--take him the taxes, fax something, pick up his contacts and go to the bank. I didn't mind. But at the bank, I hit one of the posts on the way out. So embarrassing! I know that all the people in the bank saw me and all the cars by the light. So I backed up, corrected, and drove off. Then I was worried that I was going to be arrested although I was pretty sure I didn't hurt the post at all. The truck has a pretty good chunk in it and the passenger door barely opens. Scott didn't really care. So I came home and had an egg sandwich for lunch and some blueberry oatmeal for a snack and rested and read and then went to the gym for body jam and step class. Again, it felt so good to finally have my back not hurt! We didn't do any lifting so my elbow was good, too! Then I got chipotle and took scott his burrito and came home and had an awesome hot shower and ate my burrito bowl. Yummy. A friday night tradition I won't break soon. I just also fixed a healthy chocolate strawberry smoothie but couldn't finish it. Now I'm blogging and will probably watch a movie and then.... what I've waited all day for....I will get my new prayer journal ready to write in! I love a new journal! This one is a spiral that is brown and has a turquiose flowery pattern on it. I got it on sale at barnes and nobles in topeka on monday. I am at the end of a pink, really thick journal that I've written in since October. That's a lot of prayer! So I filled up my blank page day and now I will fill up by blank page journal. Life is good.

Spring Break Part 2 Friends and Family

As I left KC tonight after spending some time with my mom in LV and my dad and Jean(and even squeezed in some extra Leah time as she's in Leawood,) I got melancholy and thought about home. I felt sad thinking I was leaving home, but realized I was heading TOWARD home, my Scotty. I also passed through Lawrence where I have nephews and Topeka, where Julie and Larry and Nephew Ian are. I have family all around this part of Kansas. Is home where family is or where you have history? I guess I could just say northeast Kansas is my home.
I spent the last few days trying to squeeze in some good friends and family time. Monday, the last day Leah and her boyfriend were in Manhattan, we went to Topeka and got Scott some much needed new duds from Kohl's. We met Julie and Larry for dinner. Larry's cancer is back and he's waiting to hear the doctor's plan. It was good to get some time with them--we never spend enough time with them. I was a tad sad as we said goodbye to Leah and sent her on to spend the rest of the break with David's family in Leawood.
Yesterday I spent the entire day with Adelle. We did some errands, ate two meals together, and then just hung out here. I read and she watched music videos and her favorite tv show. My goal was to talk to her about her autism and it went really well. I told her that I am reading about a famous person, Temple Grandin who thinks in pictures and has autism and was able to turn her unique way of thinking into a career for which she's become famous. I asked Adelle if she knows she has a unique way of thinking, different from others. She said yes. When I read her the different types of thinking that Temple described in her book, Adelle said she thinks all three ways. I said that we need to figure out a way to turn that to a successful career. She liked that.
Then, of course today, I took the dogs and drove to LV to spend the afternoon with mom. We at lunch at applebee's then went in to KC to Legends and had Leah meet us for a quick shop at Target and Kohl's. Then I stopped in to visit and eat supper with with Dad and Jean. Both my parents are getting up there in age and I'm really proud of them. They are, at 82 and 80, both doing amazingly well physically. They are both doing well mentally, too, but you do have to patiently tell them the same things over and over. They are both independent, which is really a feat for my mom since she lives alone. No one knows what the future holds so I give them extra special hugs each time we part.
I am now officially half way through Spring Break. If I'd known it was going to get cold, I would have appreciated the warm days a bit more. Last night we slept with the house wide open and when I got up this morning, it was 60 degrees inside--45 outside! I still love the sunshine and today, the billowy clouds. Part three Spring Break, what will you hold?