Well, I'm back. I have to tell you, I've had a lot to say lately but not enough time to type it out! I'm taking advantage of my extra hour tonight to send out some of the things I've been thinking about.
High school reunions: Mine was this fall and it was so much fun seeing people I haven't talked to (outside of Facebook) since the day we graduated. Some people have changed a lot and some people haven't changed at all. I have changed a lot in little ways that aren't easy to notice if you've never had a conversation with me. The way I approach the world was largely shaped by my upbringing, but in these years since high school, I have gone out, seen the world, met people from all walks of life. I've had an opportunity to really change my views and, more importantly, I've gained perspective on things that have happened to me and the challenges that everyone faces are all at once different, the same, trivial, and vastly important. Everything is relative.
Speaking of relatives, we were hoping to see some of mine on our way to the Grand Canyon this summer but that trip had to be postponed due to an AP conference for the Mr. and a Canadian Wedding Adventure which I was unable to attend. Someone please remind me to update my passport at Christmastime or our European adventure may not happen!
This year at school is pretty stinkin' crazy! I'm now teaching Freshmen and Seniors, the babies and the big kids. It's a lot, dealing with the Seniors and the fishies this year. If I had them on different days, it'd be easier because I'd have one thing at a time to deal with. As it is, I start out more relaxed with my seniors, and have to get strict later with the Freshmen. It's tough transitioning and I can't wait for Christmas break when my fish are more motivated - and the Seniors are barely hanging on. I've got a lot of strategizing to do!
House hunting - who loves doing that? Real estate agents, perhaps. Me? I'm done. It's for the birds. I've had it. I'm just going to sit back and patiently wait for someone to give me a house. You think I'm kidding, but I'm not. We put an offer in on a short sale a month and a half or so ago and the bank has just now asked us for proof of funds. Sigh. Now we get to wait for them to sign our offer. It's been so long, I don't even know what it was anymore! Regardless, our lease is up at the end of December so the V's are on the move by Christmas in one direction or another. As if the holidays weren't crazy enough! Prayers for our house and for our sanity (mine especially) are greatly appreciated!
Now, if you live in the greater DFW area and you are free on November 18th (that's a Thursday, folks), then I'd like for you to head on over to http://www.hopebelieveobey.com/ and buy a ticket for All I Want For Christmas Is A Girl's Night Out. My college worship leader and his wife are adopting a child from China, fresh on the heels of their trip to work with orphans there. I knew Kelli couldn't come home without an orphan baby and I was right! Well, sort of. She came home without a baby, but with big plans to offer a home to the homeless. She and Bill, parents to four biological children, have pictures of little Lilli that would melt your heart. If you aren't female, consider buying tickets for some of the gals in your life. Last time, I won a $200 photography gift certificate!!!
If you aren't free that night, please consider donating. Instructions are on the site.
That's all from me for now. I hope you are doing well!
Mrs. V
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Thoughts on Grace
I want to tell you a story.
I've been bad. I've been very, very bad. I've ignored the teachings of my elders, denied the education of my youth, and my teeth are suffering the consequence.
That's right, readers. This is a tooth story. And it's a true story. But it doesn't start at the dentist; it starts, rather, with a stuffy nose.
Twice a year (if I'm lucky), I get a really bad sinus infection. We're talking one clogged up, marathon running nose, the achingly on fire throat, and a cough that puts a smoker's to shame. And the cough strips the throat so raw that the cough just keeps coming. All of that chaos makes it difficult to sleep. No. Make that IMPOSSIBLE. Unless you have help, that is.
Now, I've learned that Delsym is wonderful (and doesn't taste so bad, either) and that Robitussen Nighttime Cough and Cold will do the trick (if you can gag it down), but it took me a few years to learn that. And by a few, we're talking more than a quarter of a century. And when you think about it, it's a long time!
Before I bought into the over-the-counter cough syrup idea, however, I enlisted the aide of an old standby: the cough drop. I'll admit that in my sleep-deprived state, I wasn't thinking too terribly clearly. The thought of choking in the night had occurred to me so I rammed that sucker up between my teeth and my cheek and closed my teeth together. I was safe. And desperation will make you do some pretty stupid things.
Fast forward to late June. Mr. V and I went to the dentist and I got the news I had feared: something would have to be done about these teeth! I've never had the best of luck with my chompers and this visit showed that some things never change.
So as I'm sitting in the dentist's chair today, I'm thinking about what a mess I've made. I confess my cough drop story to Dr. K and her assistant. "Yep, that'll do it!" they say. "Have a friend who used to pack peppermints up there like that. Sugar free from now on!" And they go about fixing me up.
After my confession and their confirmation of my huge mistake, I had some time to reflect. To think. To get some sort of bigger lesson out of this mess. Here's what I came up with:
Grace. It's an incredible gift. It's so very costly, so enormously expensive. And so reassuring. It's that big hug that you get when you messed up and feel like all is lost. It's a whisper that says "It's okay. You did you best. I know you tried as hard as you could, and that's what matters." You see, I try so hard to keep my teeth clean and in order and out of trouble. I try so very, very hard. But I've always had trouble with them and probably always will. No matter how hard I try, it won't ever be enough to fix all of the problems I have, to prevent me from messing up here and there somehow.
God knows this. God knows that, no matter how hard we try, we'll never get it right. That's why He sent Jesus. He knew we'd need Him, we'd need what we find in His perfect sacrifice. I was reminded today, sitting in such pain, in the mess I'd made of my mouth, that I do the same thing in my life. During my procedure, my husband tried to come in to squeeze my hand. He just wanted to reassure me that he loves me and that everything is going to be fine.
God sends his grace for just that. God wants to squeeze us, hug us, tell us that everything is going to be okay. We tried our best, and that's what He wants. He knows we'll never be perfect and He wants us to know that's okay. But we still need to try our best to do the right thing.
For me and my mouth, that looks like brushing for longer, using better mouth wash, and making sure to floss every single day. And this is a bit of a challenge for me because my mouth is smaller than most (or so say every dentist and orthodonist I've ever had) and it's difficult to get back there. But I need to do it. I need to try.
I need to further examine the rest of my life to see the areas where I need to try harder. His grace is enough, and I can't earn it but I can't take it for granted, either.
I've been bad. I've been very, very bad. I've ignored the teachings of my elders, denied the education of my youth, and my teeth are suffering the consequence.
That's right, readers. This is a tooth story. And it's a true story. But it doesn't start at the dentist; it starts, rather, with a stuffy nose.
Twice a year (if I'm lucky), I get a really bad sinus infection. We're talking one clogged up, marathon running nose, the achingly on fire throat, and a cough that puts a smoker's to shame. And the cough strips the throat so raw that the cough just keeps coming. All of that chaos makes it difficult to sleep. No. Make that IMPOSSIBLE. Unless you have help, that is.
Now, I've learned that Delsym is wonderful (and doesn't taste so bad, either) and that Robitussen Nighttime Cough and Cold will do the trick (if you can gag it down), but it took me a few years to learn that. And by a few, we're talking more than a quarter of a century. And when you think about it, it's a long time!
Before I bought into the over-the-counter cough syrup idea, however, I enlisted the aide of an old standby: the cough drop. I'll admit that in my sleep-deprived state, I wasn't thinking too terribly clearly. The thought of choking in the night had occurred to me so I rammed that sucker up between my teeth and my cheek and closed my teeth together. I was safe. And desperation will make you do some pretty stupid things.
Fast forward to late June. Mr. V and I went to the dentist and I got the news I had feared: something would have to be done about these teeth! I've never had the best of luck with my chompers and this visit showed that some things never change.
So as I'm sitting in the dentist's chair today, I'm thinking about what a mess I've made. I confess my cough drop story to Dr. K and her assistant. "Yep, that'll do it!" they say. "Have a friend who used to pack peppermints up there like that. Sugar free from now on!" And they go about fixing me up.
After my confession and their confirmation of my huge mistake, I had some time to reflect. To think. To get some sort of bigger lesson out of this mess. Here's what I came up with:
Grace. It's an incredible gift. It's so very costly, so enormously expensive. And so reassuring. It's that big hug that you get when you messed up and feel like all is lost. It's a whisper that says "It's okay. You did you best. I know you tried as hard as you could, and that's what matters." You see, I try so hard to keep my teeth clean and in order and out of trouble. I try so very, very hard. But I've always had trouble with them and probably always will. No matter how hard I try, it won't ever be enough to fix all of the problems I have, to prevent me from messing up here and there somehow.
God knows this. God knows that, no matter how hard we try, we'll never get it right. That's why He sent Jesus. He knew we'd need Him, we'd need what we find in His perfect sacrifice. I was reminded today, sitting in such pain, in the mess I'd made of my mouth, that I do the same thing in my life. During my procedure, my husband tried to come in to squeeze my hand. He just wanted to reassure me that he loves me and that everything is going to be fine.
God sends his grace for just that. God wants to squeeze us, hug us, tell us that everything is going to be okay. We tried our best, and that's what He wants. He knows we'll never be perfect and He wants us to know that's okay. But we still need to try our best to do the right thing.
For me and my mouth, that looks like brushing for longer, using better mouth wash, and making sure to floss every single day. And this is a bit of a challenge for me because my mouth is smaller than most (or so say every dentist and orthodonist I've ever had) and it's difficult to get back there. But I need to do it. I need to try.
I need to further examine the rest of my life to see the areas where I need to try harder. His grace is enough, and I can't earn it but I can't take it for granted, either.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Professional Development
As a teacher, I am required to fulfill professional development every year. I attend workshops and lectures and glean from these ideas on how to be a better teacher. Sometimes they're great, and when they're great they're GREAT but when they're bad, they are HORRID.
Well, I was sitting in the dentist's chair the other day and I started thinking about professional development in the world of dentistry. My old dentist was, in fact, old. She had been my dentist since I was old enough to remember the pain of a dental pick's prick. She was set in her ways and while I listened to friends tell me about the things they were experiencing at their dentists' offices, I felt like I was getting the short end of the stick.
As I sat in my new dentist's chair, I looked around at the fancy equipment that took x-rays of my teeth - individually! Prior to my appointment, I perused their website to see that they don't use silver fillings but instead have fillings that are tooth colored. The numbing agent used was soooo much better than my previous dentist's.
I, no longer in a haze of gasses, realize that the advances in tooth filling and such probably aren't quite as dramatic as the constant changes in education. However, I see some parallels in the prof dev department.
What if my older, more established dentist, didn't take advantage of the dental workshops or seminars that were available? What if she never updated her equipment (one online reviewer stated she hasn't)? What if she turned up her nose at advancements in dentistry and said "I've done it this way for years and I'm sticking with what works!"???
Her patients would be missing out on the benefits that the newfangled ways of doing things have to offer!
This comparison of my old dentist with my new dentist got me thinking: What if educators did the same thing?
As I stated earlier, my profession requires that I go to professional development every year. And I have to log 150 hours every five years to keep my certification. It would certainly free up my schedule a good bit to skip those mandated hours, wouldn't it?
There are so many educators in this state who have decided that there is one way of doing things - the way they've been doing them for 10, 20, 30 years. Teeth may be the same, but kids certainly aren't. I graduated just 10 years ago and I can tell you that they've changed - dramatically.
They don't learn the same ways that you and I did. The worksheets and repetition aren't enough. They need you to edutain them because they've grown up watching TV, playing video games, and social networking. But more than that, they need to see the relevance of what they're trying to learn.
And beyond that, they've found BETTER ways of teaching the same old stuff. I am always trying to re-invent myself in the classroom, trying to improve what I did the day, week, month, year before. Sometimes I fall flat on my face. Sometimes I jump up in the air, click my heels together, and get so excited because they get it. Shouldn't all educators be as passionate?
They get it. That's what it's all about. It's why I do what I do. It's why I go to conference after workshop after seminar. I don't ever want to be an teacher with "old" ways. I don't want to be like my old dentist with equipment from the 1960s. I always want to be vibrant and excited about the world in which I live.
Are you stuck in a rut? What do you do to make sure you stay on top of your game? Let me know!
Mrs. V
Well, I was sitting in the dentist's chair the other day and I started thinking about professional development in the world of dentistry. My old dentist was, in fact, old. She had been my dentist since I was old enough to remember the pain of a dental pick's prick. She was set in her ways and while I listened to friends tell me about the things they were experiencing at their dentists' offices, I felt like I was getting the short end of the stick.
As I sat in my new dentist's chair, I looked around at the fancy equipment that took x-rays of my teeth - individually! Prior to my appointment, I perused their website to see that they don't use silver fillings but instead have fillings that are tooth colored. The numbing agent used was soooo much better than my previous dentist's.
I, no longer in a haze of gasses, realize that the advances in tooth filling and such probably aren't quite as dramatic as the constant changes in education. However, I see some parallels in the prof dev department.
What if my older, more established dentist, didn't take advantage of the dental workshops or seminars that were available? What if she never updated her equipment (one online reviewer stated she hasn't)? What if she turned up her nose at advancements in dentistry and said "I've done it this way for years and I'm sticking with what works!"???
Her patients would be missing out on the benefits that the newfangled ways of doing things have to offer!
This comparison of my old dentist with my new dentist got me thinking: What if educators did the same thing?
As I stated earlier, my profession requires that I go to professional development every year. And I have to log 150 hours every five years to keep my certification. It would certainly free up my schedule a good bit to skip those mandated hours, wouldn't it?
There are so many educators in this state who have decided that there is one way of doing things - the way they've been doing them for 10, 20, 30 years. Teeth may be the same, but kids certainly aren't. I graduated just 10 years ago and I can tell you that they've changed - dramatically.
They don't learn the same ways that you and I did. The worksheets and repetition aren't enough. They need you to edutain them because they've grown up watching TV, playing video games, and social networking. But more than that, they need to see the relevance of what they're trying to learn.
And beyond that, they've found BETTER ways of teaching the same old stuff. I am always trying to re-invent myself in the classroom, trying to improve what I did the day, week, month, year before. Sometimes I fall flat on my face. Sometimes I jump up in the air, click my heels together, and get so excited because they get it. Shouldn't all educators be as passionate?
They get it. That's what it's all about. It's why I do what I do. It's why I go to conference after workshop after seminar. I don't ever want to be an teacher with "old" ways. I don't want to be like my old dentist with equipment from the 1960s. I always want to be vibrant and excited about the world in which I live.
Are you stuck in a rut? What do you do to make sure you stay on top of your game? Let me know!
Mrs. V
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Baby days - I don't think so!
I love babies. I really do! I always have. At my father's house, you can find pictures of me leaning over babies to "take care of them" when I was a toddler. I used to tell my mother that I had 6 kids and they lived at McDonald's. Truth be told, I like kids of all ages, and I'm pretty ready to help out if you ask me. And if it happens, it happens, and we'll be thrilled.
However, this does not mean that I'm ready for my own. No, thank you! And I'll tell you why.
I just got married what seems like 5 minutes ago (truth be told, I'm just 14 days shy of my 1st anniversary). My husband and I are still adjusting to each other, learning what makes the other tick. For example, I had just rolled out of bed the other morning, and Mr. V asked me what I was planning on doing with something that was sitting on the table. I, not being a morning person, told him as lovingly as I could pre-sunrise that "this is NOT the time to ask me questions." It hadn't really come up yet, so there it was. Can you imagine me, not a morning person, dealing with a baby, a toddler, a teenager, a child of any age AND having to (I use this term loosely) "train" my husband on the 'do this but not that' of mornings? Can you spell catastrophe?
People will ask me all of the time when we're going to have children. "Not yet," I tell them. "We just got married. We're going to wait a while." And I get a little tired of it.
Now, I know a lot of people are thinking that they know or are someone who was pregnant within the first year of their marriage and that worked out just fine. I know those people, too, and I'm so, so, so happy for them. But I know me better and I know that I need a little more time.
See, what you may not know is that my mother passed away almost three years ago. I started teaching just a month after she passed away. And coaching. And I had an apartment fire. And that was just in the first year of her not being here to support me they way she had for 25 years before. Since then, I've been busy with the ups and downs that come with teaching and coaching and getting married and moving and everything else.
I need a year of normal. I need it. I'm looking forward to having my first year of teaching without coaching cheerleading. It's going to be great! I'm looking forward to my second year of marriage to a man I hopelessly love but am still getting to know. I'm looking forward to buying our first house, to my friends' weddings in far off places, to our month in Europe next summer, to laughing and getting back to truly loving life and living with a gusto. I miss the person I was 3 years ago. I need to find her again before I add another person to the mix.
I know it's fun to ask and people love babies. Trust me. I'll let you know when we're expecting. Just don't expect us to expect anybody new anytime soon.
Thank you, friends!
Mrs. V
PS - My sweet husband is also a big goof and every now and then, he'll contract foot-in-mouth disease. He'll say something akin to "It's okay, baby. We'll have one someday" while rubbing my back. This generally warrants the rolling of my eyes as someone in the group will invariably (and consolingly) say "you still have time" or "there's no rush." While well-meaning, it's not necessary. I even find it a bit patronizing and I don't need the sympathy, so it's out of place. I have taked to Mr. V about it and he is trying to stop, but if he slips up and happens to say something like that, please disregard. We're not actively trying to have a baby right now.
However, this does not mean that I'm ready for my own. No, thank you! And I'll tell you why.
I just got married what seems like 5 minutes ago (truth be told, I'm just 14 days shy of my 1st anniversary). My husband and I are still adjusting to each other, learning what makes the other tick. For example, I had just rolled out of bed the other morning, and Mr. V asked me what I was planning on doing with something that was sitting on the table. I, not being a morning person, told him as lovingly as I could pre-sunrise that "this is NOT the time to ask me questions." It hadn't really come up yet, so there it was. Can you imagine me, not a morning person, dealing with a baby, a toddler, a teenager, a child of any age AND having to (I use this term loosely) "train" my husband on the 'do this but not that' of mornings? Can you spell catastrophe?
People will ask me all of the time when we're going to have children. "Not yet," I tell them. "We just got married. We're going to wait a while." And I get a little tired of it.
Now, I know a lot of people are thinking that they know or are someone who was pregnant within the first year of their marriage and that worked out just fine. I know those people, too, and I'm so, so, so happy for them. But I know me better and I know that I need a little more time.
See, what you may not know is that my mother passed away almost three years ago. I started teaching just a month after she passed away. And coaching. And I had an apartment fire. And that was just in the first year of her not being here to support me they way she had for 25 years before. Since then, I've been busy with the ups and downs that come with teaching and coaching and getting married and moving and everything else.
I need a year of normal. I need it. I'm looking forward to having my first year of teaching without coaching cheerleading. It's going to be great! I'm looking forward to my second year of marriage to a man I hopelessly love but am still getting to know. I'm looking forward to buying our first house, to my friends' weddings in far off places, to our month in Europe next summer, to laughing and getting back to truly loving life and living with a gusto. I miss the person I was 3 years ago. I need to find her again before I add another person to the mix.
I know it's fun to ask and people love babies. Trust me. I'll let you know when we're expecting. Just don't expect us to expect anybody new anytime soon.
Thank you, friends!
Mrs. V
PS - My sweet husband is also a big goof and every now and then, he'll contract foot-in-mouth disease. He'll say something akin to "It's okay, baby. We'll have one someday" while rubbing my back. This generally warrants the rolling of my eyes as someone in the group will invariably (and consolingly) say "you still have time" or "there's no rush." While well-meaning, it's not necessary. I even find it a bit patronizing and I don't need the sympathy, so it's out of place. I have taked to Mr. V about it and he is trying to stop, but if he slips up and happens to say something like that, please disregard. We're not actively trying to have a baby right now.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Mrs. V gets a make-over!
In an effort to keep from "letting myself go," I decided it was time to turn my frumpy blog into something more fun. I hope you like the changes that I've made and that it will make you visits much more pleasant!
Mrs. V
Mrs. V
Monday, May 3, 2010
Birthday/Family Mania!!!
One of the things I've realized as I've gotten older and observed my friends' marriages is that when you marry your husband, you marry his family. This has been said over and over and over again, I know.
Now that I'm married, though, I can completely sympathize with my friend, Mrs. M, whose husband's family is bigger and LOVES to hang out. A lot. For any reason.
I love my in-laws. I feel very fortunate that I don't have a Monster-In-Law or anything that resembles the terror one might face in a J-Lo film. However, the sense of family togetherness and the desire to hang out and just be with my man collides when there is any major holiday or birthday. Add in my father, who needs a good bit of help with things and is lonely (as widowers tend to be) and you've got a LOT to do in one weekend.
Friday was Mr. V's birthday AND the end of TAKS. Not one to make a fuss out of making one more trip around the sun (unlike his wife), we planned to celebrate the two together. After school on Friday, we ended up across the street at an Italian restaurant (because our first choice is closed between 2 and 5) and we caught up with good friends, devoured excellent garlic rolls, and passed around the baby (not ours - our friends') for what ended up being over 3 hours! It was great, but we got home much later than we expected!
The next day, I let Mr. V sleep in while I caught up with an elusive college friend who, after years (seriously, years) of living under a rock, delightfully reemerged and came up to Dallas for a 5k. Then I rushed home to pick up my sleepy birthday boy to get packing materials from my dad so we could race to Ft. Worth to pack up more of my grandmother's house before heading out to the in-laws house in Keller to shower, change, and head out to Bedford for Mr. V's family birthday dinner at Pappadeaux's! Funny enough, we ran into our school's drill team director and got to meet her family and boyfriend while we were there. Bonus!
While we were there, we got to give Mr. V his birthday present from all of us: season tickets for TCU football! I don't know how I'll ever be able to beat that idea. Ever. He was so beyond excited!
We left Bedford to get some rest before experiencing the last of the birthday weekend: dinner with my dad! We met in the middle at Twisted Root in Richardson which was good, but not great. I feel like the FoodNetwork lied to me a little - Jake's is still FAR superior, in my humble opinion.
I wish I could say that we'll soon be able to rest up for that final push to the end of the school year, but we have Mother's Day and another family birthday on back to back weekends.
I keep telling my friends (who married 6 months after we did) that it seems like married life is just busy-ness followed by more busy-ness topped off with a packed out schedule. Anyone else sympathize with crazy (albeit sometimes fun-filled) married weekends?
Now that I'm married, though, I can completely sympathize with my friend, Mrs. M, whose husband's family is bigger and LOVES to hang out. A lot. For any reason.
I love my in-laws. I feel very fortunate that I don't have a Monster-In-Law or anything that resembles the terror one might face in a J-Lo film. However, the sense of family togetherness and the desire to hang out and just be with my man collides when there is any major holiday or birthday. Add in my father, who needs a good bit of help with things and is lonely (as widowers tend to be) and you've got a LOT to do in one weekend.
Friday was Mr. V's birthday AND the end of TAKS. Not one to make a fuss out of making one more trip around the sun (unlike his wife), we planned to celebrate the two together. After school on Friday, we ended up across the street at an Italian restaurant (because our first choice is closed between 2 and 5) and we caught up with good friends, devoured excellent garlic rolls, and passed around the baby (not ours - our friends') for what ended up being over 3 hours! It was great, but we got home much later than we expected!
The next day, I let Mr. V sleep in while I caught up with an elusive college friend who, after years (seriously, years) of living under a rock, delightfully reemerged and came up to Dallas for a 5k. Then I rushed home to pick up my sleepy birthday boy to get packing materials from my dad so we could race to Ft. Worth to pack up more of my grandmother's house before heading out to the in-laws house in Keller to shower, change, and head out to Bedford for Mr. V's family birthday dinner at Pappadeaux's! Funny enough, we ran into our school's drill team director and got to meet her family and boyfriend while we were there. Bonus!
While we were there, we got to give Mr. V his birthday present from all of us: season tickets for TCU football! I don't know how I'll ever be able to beat that idea. Ever. He was so beyond excited!
We left Bedford to get some rest before experiencing the last of the birthday weekend: dinner with my dad! We met in the middle at Twisted Root in Richardson which was good, but not great. I feel like the FoodNetwork lied to me a little - Jake's is still FAR superior, in my humble opinion.
I wish I could say that we'll soon be able to rest up for that final push to the end of the school year, but we have Mother's Day and another family birthday on back to back weekends.
I keep telling my friends (who married 6 months after we did) that it seems like married life is just busy-ness followed by more busy-ness topped off with a packed out schedule. Anyone else sympathize with crazy (albeit sometimes fun-filled) married weekends?
Friday, April 23, 2010
It's About Time
No, really. This post is about time. Mr. and Mrs. V have had so little of it lately (hence the hiatus from blogging) that we're about to scream. This month, we have had something going on every weekend and this one is no exception. However, instead of heading out to Arkansas or spending the day at cheerleading tryouts, we are headed to Arlington with some friends for a little Rangers action.
We had the opportunity to attend a talent show at the school tonight but turned it down in favor of hanging out around our often neglected home. And what did we do, first thing? Take a nap. Because we're tired. So very tired.
Here's the lesson we've learned in these oh-so-busy months: time is valuable, precious, necessary. When we were dating, we were Mr. and Miss High School (in the teacher sense), going to everything and seeing the kids as often as possible. This year, we've tried doing the same thing but we've noticed that we just can't. It's been smacking us in the face lately, our overcommitment to everything else. We both love to support our students - and at our school, where so many kids' parents aren't there, we feel it's incredibly important, but so is our marriage and spending time together is essential to building a strong one.
Note: If you're wondering why, on a Friday night, when we've turned down a buy-one-get-one free ticket to a rockin' talent show, I'm taking time out to blog, it's because the Mr. is in the shower.
We had the opportunity to attend a talent show at the school tonight but turned it down in favor of hanging out around our often neglected home. And what did we do, first thing? Take a nap. Because we're tired. So very tired.
Here's the lesson we've learned in these oh-so-busy months: time is valuable, precious, necessary. When we were dating, we were Mr. and Miss High School (in the teacher sense), going to everything and seeing the kids as often as possible. This year, we've tried doing the same thing but we've noticed that we just can't. It's been smacking us in the face lately, our overcommitment to everything else. We both love to support our students - and at our school, where so many kids' parents aren't there, we feel it's incredibly important, but so is our marriage and spending time together is essential to building a strong one.
Note: If you're wondering why, on a Friday night, when we've turned down a buy-one-get-one free ticket to a rockin' talent show, I'm taking time out to blog, it's because the Mr. is in the shower.
Friday, March 19, 2010
Spring Break!!!
Finally, spring break has arrived and at the time of this post, is nearly over. I will miss it.
First, Mr. V and I flew off to Palm Springs, California for a wedding - we joke that we had separate vacations as we were split into boy groups and girl groups all weekend - and then we went up to L.A. to see Miss W and her boyfriend, Mr. B and stopped over at Universal Studios. We had a BLAST. It was fun to see the Cs get married and to see Mr. M (totally missed his wife, though) for a while. 'tis a shame that we have to pay a million dollars and hop a plane to see someone who lives 30 minutes north of us when we're in town, but it was a definite blessing. And it was GREAT to meet Mr. B, who will someday soon make Miss W his Mrs :)
Since returning to Dallas on Tuesday evening, we have been on California time, minus the "spring forward" time change, and have found it hard to go to bed at a reasonable (Dallas) hour and even more difficult to get up at a decent time! Hopefully we'll get it together over the weekend or else we're in MAJOR trouble for Monday when we have to go back to school at 7:00am!
I hope that everyone who has Spring Break has had a restful one, and that everyone else is not too jealous but is able to get away and get some rest somehow!
First, Mr. V and I flew off to Palm Springs, California for a wedding - we joke that we had separate vacations as we were split into boy groups and girl groups all weekend - and then we went up to L.A. to see Miss W and her boyfriend, Mr. B and stopped over at Universal Studios. We had a BLAST. It was fun to see the Cs get married and to see Mr. M (totally missed his wife, though) for a while. 'tis a shame that we have to pay a million dollars and hop a plane to see someone who lives 30 minutes north of us when we're in town, but it was a definite blessing. And it was GREAT to meet Mr. B, who will someday soon make Miss W his Mrs :)
Since returning to Dallas on Tuesday evening, we have been on California time, minus the "spring forward" time change, and have found it hard to go to bed at a reasonable (Dallas) hour and even more difficult to get up at a decent time! Hopefully we'll get it together over the weekend or else we're in MAJOR trouble for Monday when we have to go back to school at 7:00am!
I hope that everyone who has Spring Break has had a restful one, and that everyone else is not too jealous but is able to get away and get some rest somehow!
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Happy Valentine's Day!
Okay, who else got breakfast in bed this morning? I'm willing to bet that I'm not alone.
Along with my scrambled eggs, bacon, and chocolate milk, Mr. V brought in a vase full of flowers and a card filled with wonderful, sweet words about all the things he loves about me. Well, probably not ALL of the things. There is limited space on the card. BUT it was so sweet!
Though Valentine's Day is commonly associated with lovers, I have to say that it makes me miss my mom and my childhood. Every Valentine's Day, my brother and I would get a valentine from our parents, and sometimes a little gift, too. I remember one year, early in my school days, I got a heart-shaped puzzle made from erasers. It came in a little plastic case that was also heart-shaped. I don't think I ever used them. After all, If i used them, the puzzle wouldn't fit together anymore. I treasure this memory from my childhood, and encourage you to send your love to the people in your life who need to know you love them, be they family, friends, or your special someone.
And if you feel as though you have no one to love, no one special to think of, remember that God's love abounds. It's a gracious and wonderful gift that's yours for the taking; all you have to do is receive it.
Happy Valentine's Day!
Along with my scrambled eggs, bacon, and chocolate milk, Mr. V brought in a vase full of flowers and a card filled with wonderful, sweet words about all the things he loves about me. Well, probably not ALL of the things. There is limited space on the card. BUT it was so sweet!
Though Valentine's Day is commonly associated with lovers, I have to say that it makes me miss my mom and my childhood. Every Valentine's Day, my brother and I would get a valentine from our parents, and sometimes a little gift, too. I remember one year, early in my school days, I got a heart-shaped puzzle made from erasers. It came in a little plastic case that was also heart-shaped. I don't think I ever used them. After all, If i used them, the puzzle wouldn't fit together anymore. I treasure this memory from my childhood, and encourage you to send your love to the people in your life who need to know you love them, be they family, friends, or your special someone.
And if you feel as though you have no one to love, no one special to think of, remember that God's love abounds. It's a gracious and wonderful gift that's yours for the taking; all you have to do is receive it.
Happy Valentine's Day!
Thursday, January 28, 2010
The Problem with the DVR
Ok, before you drop your laptops on the ground in a rush to hug your DVR, assuring it that there is no problem with it at all, please understand this: I have been a fan of the idea of skipping commercials, recording TV on one channel while watching another, and can generally agree that this device saves time.
Same with watching television shows on DVD. I love watching my Gilmore Girls one commercial-free episode at a time while I do other mundane things like laundry. However, I have started missing something.
I think that I have become less of a "gotta have it" consumer and more of a "I'm out of this thing called food and should probably replace what I've eaten" consumer. I know, it's long. But it's the truth. Having missed out on innumerable commercials for the past few years has probably brought about this change in me. Either that, or the birthdays that keep coming have increased my wisdom.
But here it is: I miss commercials. Not only do they fascinate me when I happen to see one (sometimes, and only because I rarely see any at all), but they served a special function in my life. They were a nice gap between laughs, space between clues in a mystery, opportunities to grab tissues during tearjerker episodes.
Sure, I can pause my DVR or DVD player, but that's not the point. First of all, it irritates me when things get paused because it's generally not a great time and dialogue gets messed up or missed. Rewinding happens and therefore, rewatching what you JUST SAW happens. I don't like it. Second, and this is most important, I really liked having the opportunity to comment on what just happened with the person next to me.
Commercials are strategically timed within episodes. They happen at cliffhanger moments, just when a person (ok, it could be just me) would want to turn around and say "hey! I bet __________ is about to happen!" or "Ooooh, that was awesome." Perhaps you just want to get up to get a beverage or use the "facilities." Commercials provided you with a convenient window to do all of those things without inconveniencing the other people in the room. No waiting for Jane to come back from the bathroom. Bob can make a joke about the main character's lack of masculinity and no one has missed anything in the episode. Main character doesn't get paused mid-sentence. Nothing is interrupted and you get to benefit from Bob's quick wit.
I'm sure that I'm mostly alone in this and that people are completely satisfied with their television watching. I'm just a bit sad to see the commercial break (which, by the way, was originally invented to sell cereal) fade into obscurity. Even if it is pretty trivial when it comes to actual content, it provided an opportunity for connection with the person or people you're next to.
That is all.
Mrs. V
Same with watching television shows on DVD. I love watching my Gilmore Girls one commercial-free episode at a time while I do other mundane things like laundry. However, I have started missing something.
I think that I have become less of a "gotta have it" consumer and more of a "I'm out of this thing called food and should probably replace what I've eaten" consumer. I know, it's long. But it's the truth. Having missed out on innumerable commercials for the past few years has probably brought about this change in me. Either that, or the birthdays that keep coming have increased my wisdom.
But here it is: I miss commercials. Not only do they fascinate me when I happen to see one (sometimes, and only because I rarely see any at all), but they served a special function in my life. They were a nice gap between laughs, space between clues in a mystery, opportunities to grab tissues during tearjerker episodes.
Sure, I can pause my DVR or DVD player, but that's not the point. First of all, it irritates me when things get paused because it's generally not a great time and dialogue gets messed up or missed. Rewinding happens and therefore, rewatching what you JUST SAW happens. I don't like it. Second, and this is most important, I really liked having the opportunity to comment on what just happened with the person next to me.
Commercials are strategically timed within episodes. They happen at cliffhanger moments, just when a person (ok, it could be just me) would want to turn around and say "hey! I bet __________ is about to happen!" or "Ooooh, that was awesome." Perhaps you just want to get up to get a beverage or use the "facilities." Commercials provided you with a convenient window to do all of those things without inconveniencing the other people in the room. No waiting for Jane to come back from the bathroom. Bob can make a joke about the main character's lack of masculinity and no one has missed anything in the episode. Main character doesn't get paused mid-sentence. Nothing is interrupted and you get to benefit from Bob's quick wit.
I'm sure that I'm mostly alone in this and that people are completely satisfied with their television watching. I'm just a bit sad to see the commercial break (which, by the way, was originally invented to sell cereal) fade into obscurity. Even if it is pretty trivial when it comes to actual content, it provided an opportunity for connection with the person or people you're next to.
That is all.
Mrs. V
Friday, January 22, 2010
My husband is so thoughtful!
Tonight is the first night since we've been married that I'm sleeping alone. My husband is sleeping in a living room or spare bedroom in a house full of married men celebrating the end of their friend's bachelorhood.
I had a doctor's appointment right after school today so I left from work, hugging my husband goodbye in the parking lot. He went home to wait for his friends who were on their way to our place before they ran off to Arkansas. That's right folks. I've got a weekend to be husband-free.
When I came home from my appointment, the hubster was gone but in his place (ok, on the table, so not EXACTLY his place), I found A DOZEN ROSES!!!! Just because he loves me and wanted to let me know he was thinking about me.
I'm such a lucky, lucky girl. :)
I had a doctor's appointment right after school today so I left from work, hugging my husband goodbye in the parking lot. He went home to wait for his friends who were on their way to our place before they ran off to Arkansas. That's right folks. I've got a weekend to be husband-free.
When I came home from my appointment, the hubster was gone but in his place (ok, on the table, so not EXACTLY his place), I found A DOZEN ROSES!!!! Just because he loves me and wanted to let me know he was thinking about me.
I'm such a lucky, lucky girl. :)
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
The Post-Christmas Blahs
You may (if you're Mrs. S) or may not have noticed that I have been absent from the blogging community lately. I have often thought of this and shrugged my shoulders. I haven't had anything interesting to write.
I think I'm suffering from the post-Christmas blahs. There is no more baking in mass, Christmas shopping, or general frenzied running around to do. You would think that I would have a LOT of time to blog. And I do. I just don't know what to write! I think I'm bored.
I will share just a bit of my wedded bliss with you, though. Today, Mr. V and I have been married for 7 months. Believe it or not, that's almost as long as we were together before we got married and is about 1.5 months longer than we were together before we got engaged. I know, I know. We went a bit fast. This morning, while we were both on our conference period, though in separate parts of the building, he sent me a text message telling me that this has been a great 7 months. Isn't that sweet?
It's especially sweet when I reflect on these past 7 months. The stress of this school year (among other, more personal things), has made me quite crazy and though I know it's been difficult, my sweet husband has endured it with the patience of an angel. AND he STILL thinks it's all been great. He'll tell you it's all worth it, and that makes me feel incredibly blessed.
So, that's about all I have right now. Hopefully the writing bug will strike me again sooner rather than later!
Mrs. V
I think I'm suffering from the post-Christmas blahs. There is no more baking in mass, Christmas shopping, or general frenzied running around to do. You would think that I would have a LOT of time to blog. And I do. I just don't know what to write! I think I'm bored.
I will share just a bit of my wedded bliss with you, though. Today, Mr. V and I have been married for 7 months. Believe it or not, that's almost as long as we were together before we got married and is about 1.5 months longer than we were together before we got engaged. I know, I know. We went a bit fast. This morning, while we were both on our conference period, though in separate parts of the building, he sent me a text message telling me that this has been a great 7 months. Isn't that sweet?
It's especially sweet when I reflect on these past 7 months. The stress of this school year (among other, more personal things), has made me quite crazy and though I know it's been difficult, my sweet husband has endured it with the patience of an angel. AND he STILL thinks it's all been great. He'll tell you it's all worth it, and that makes me feel incredibly blessed.
So, that's about all I have right now. Hopefully the writing bug will strike me again sooner rather than later!
Mrs. V
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