It's Been So Long...

It's been so long since I've blogged that my address bar on my Internet browser didn't recognize my blog address....so either I've been REALLY busy.....or REALLY lazy.  I'll leave you to guess which is correct.  Here's a hint though....I told Allen the other day that I think my car drinks gas quicker when the price is higher.  He informed me that was NOT the problem.  "Baby, you keep the roads hot."  Those were his exact words.  I guess he's right but I LOVE to go.  (and use capital letters for emphases evidently)  Let me just give you a run down of our summer ??vacation?? plans.  This weekend-PCB with my baby sister and her boyfriend, next weekend-PCB with Allen's sister, her husband and our precious nieces (Shipwreck Island here we come!), the next weekend-Troy bball camp, the next week-Enterprise bball camp, the next weekend-Auburn bball camp, the next week-Auburn cheer camp...take one week off...the next week-Orange Beach family vacation...take one week off...the next 2 weeks-summer transition program for upcoming freshmen...take one week off...the next week-SCHOOL STARTS!  Allen will not be happy when he sees all these plans layed out.  Oh well.

So, what have we been up to the past month?  Let's see....Allen did spring football, I started cheer practice, I planned and hosted the CHS Senior Breakfast, and then there's all the other "stuff" that comes along with the last month of school...exams, honor's nights, graduations, etc....

Oh...one more thing before I go.  Allen and I both have been assigned to "new" duties for the next school year.  I am going to be teaching in the Carroll High version of a 9th Grade Academy.  I am VERY excited about all the plans!  Working with freshman is a true passion for me.  My goal is to be a Freshman Academy principal one day.  And Allen has been transferred to Thompkins Early Childhood Center.  That's the Kindergarten school in Ozark.  He is excited but VERY nervous.  Of course he's worried he won't do a good enough job.  I keep reminding him how much his kids have always loved him.  He is going to be the only male teacher on campus though and that makes him a little nervous too.  To my understanding there is no adult male restroom.  His new principal told him this week to make sure he knocks before he enters a restroom....I just laughed when he told me that.  He did not.  He'll be fine...I know it.  He's a charmer to say the least.  They'll love him from day 1.  We are both very thankful that we have jobs for the upcoming year.  With so many education cuts there are so many good/quality teachers out there without jobs.  God provides...that's for sure!

The End Is Near!

16 days and counting!  Can you guess what I'm counting down?  If you're a school teacher I'll give you 3 guesses...but I bet you only need 1!  I CANNOT wait for summer break!  My kids are going crazy for real!  I had a kid tell me today "if you don't like it, you can just eat it".  The most mind blowing part is that his mother was standing right there...and did not say one word!  In my most recent FB post I asked the question "What is happening to our kids?".  The answer...THEIR PARENTS!  Its really a shame that good people are being turned away from education as a career because they are not supported.  Case in point...if any college student asked my husband for advice on being a teacher...he would totally turn them away from it!  And to be honest, I can't blame him.  After the year he's had putting up with disrespect and no support I can so understand his frustration.  Then there are those teachers like me who even though are feeling the reins tightening in education still LOVE to teach.  Yes, I'm frustrated but I can't imagine doing anything other with my life...except being a stay at home wife of course. :)  All complaining set aside...in 3 and a half weeks we will be reminded why we chose education as a career!  The end is near!

Randomness

I haven't blogged in a while so I figured since I had a minute I would give a brief update on our ever-busy lives.  Allen is not home right now.  He is at the middle school athletic banquet.  If you know us very well you are probably shocked that I'm not right there with him.  In 7 years of marriage I have managed to only miss a handful of Allen's athletic events.  Tonight was a miss because I am right in the middle of cheerleader tryouts.  I didn't get home in time to get ready and go so I missed it.  Tear.  Although...I have something extra special planned for when he gets home......any guesses???  Before your mind goes to places that it shouldn't...its homemade chocolate dipped strawberries!  Yum!  Can't wait.

Allen finished up basketball tryouts for next year last week.  We think we are going to have one heck of a team.

A couple of weeks ago we were able to participate in one of Allen's best friend's wedding.  Congrats to the new Mr. and Mrs. Josh Lawford.  We absolutely love Clair and can't wait to get to spend some time with the happy couple.

This weekend we are going to Camden for Easter.  We haven't been since basketball playoffs.  Can't wait to spend some time with Grace and EK!  We sure do love our nieces!

Next weekend we will be going to Fort Walton Beach for a basketball coach’s clinic.  I'm super excited about seeing the ocean and feeling the sand between my toes!

UH OH!  Allen just called...got to go!  Hope you have a wonderful Easter praising our RISEN Savior!

A Grandmother's Legacy

Hello again...it's been a while since I sat to collect my thoughts and put them in a blog.  And even yet now, I haven't much time to write before I turn in for the night....so in an effort to keep from rambling I'll get right to it...

I have started my "summer reading list".  You see I go through phases when I feel like I have enough time to sit and enjoy one of my favorite past times...reading.  I started with a book my baby sister gave me to pass the time at my parent's cabin a couple of weekends ago.  It's titled "The Firekeeper's Secrets".  It is a collection of short stories and I enjoyed it very much.  Yesterday I started a Francin Rivers (my absolute favorite author!) book, "Leota's Garden".  I put a major dent in it today as I layed BY, not in, my pool for several hours this afternoon.  It's about an elderly woman who, at 84, feels like there is nothing left to live for.  She feels all alone in the world with only memories of past friends, estranged family and her long gone beautiful garden.  I won't bore you with anymore of the plot, instead I'll encourage you to read it yourself.  It has started off wonderful!

What I do want to do is tell you how it has made me reflect on my grandparents...especially my memama...the strength of the Hobbs family.  She is an amazing woman.  She raised my mother and her brothers and sisters (there are 5 all together) basically by herself.  My grandfather died when my mother was only 8 years old.  He was the owner of Hobbs Candy in Troy if you are from Troy and remember.  What I remember most about my memama from when I was little is sitting on her kitchen counter and helping her make homemade biscuits.  Man, nobody, and I mean NOBODY, makes homemade biscuits like Willie Mae Hobbs.  Other memories I have of her are going to feed the ducks at the pond on Troy's campus, having Easter egg hunts at her house with my cousins, and going fishing...  Just 2 weekends ago, we took her fishing at a pond in Needmore, AL.  I was sitting with her as she fished and even in her eighties she was giving me pointers about how deep my line should be and the ever dreaded task of baiting the hook.  I told her that I would sit with her but I would NOT put the cricket on the hook OR take the fish off.  You should have seen us...we made quite a funny pair.  She would get the cricket out of the bucket and hold it firm between her shaking fingers while I put the hook through the poor, squirmy creator.  After watching her poor hand shake from old age, I finally began to get the cricket by myself and bait her hook.  My heart broke for the cricket I was killing and the fact that my beloved grandmother can no longer bait her own hook...  I cannot dwell on that thought for long or it will bring tears to my eyes.

Aren't grandmothers the best?  I sure do love my precious memama!

Spring Is In The Air

In honor of Spring Break...and spring time...I am changing our blog background...hope you like it.

Day 4 and 5 Spring Break update:  Day 4 was spent nursing a terrible sore throat and cough that I picked up in GA.  It was a pretty good day though.  We made a dent in the list of movies that have recently come out that we have yet to see.  We watched "The Switch", "Life As We Know It", "Unstoppable", and "The Fighter".  All were really good movies!  We cooked a frozen pizza for dinner and watched the Saint Mary basketball game to end the night.  Today we cleaned a little, Allen washed and detailed both vehicles and I layed in the grass in my swimsuit for a couple of hours.  I have also been working on the infamous blog "The Journey That Defines Us".  It is in its final stages and should be ready to post in a couple of weeks...if not sooner!  Can't wait to finally share it with you.  Tonight we are going to grill and watch American Idol.

I hope everyone is having a great week...although if you are not a school student or teacher I'm not sure you can enjoy this week as much as those of us on spring break.  One of the many or few (depending on who you ask) perks of being a school teacher.  By the way...I fall into the "many" category. 

Expanding My Horizons

What a great start to Spring Break 2011!  We've only been on spring break for 3 days and we've hit the road running!  Friday night we had sushi, yes, I ate sushi, with some great new friends; Marci and Ryan Williams.  I had a "shaggy roll with a twist".  What was the twist you might be wondering...a LOT of cream cheese!  Didn't you know cream cheese can make anything wonderfully delicious!?!  Then yesterday we got up early, went to Troy for breakfast with my parents and headed to good 'ole Hannerville, GA for a visit with our GA family.  BTW, if you try to look up "Hannerville" on the map you won't find it.  It's a small community, better know as Parrott, where our friends Jeff and Julie Hanner live.  We spent all day yesterday "countryfying" ourselves.  Nothing like riding four wheelers and shootin' stuff.  It was super fun.  I got to shoot an old military gun and a hand gun for the first time.  And wouldn't you know, I'm a great shot.  On only my second try, I busted a glass bottle to pieces.  Julie has the funniest picture of Jeff helping me shoot while Allen is in the background with his hands over his ears like a little kid.  Allen has always been scared to teach me how to use a gun.  Not sure if he's scared I'll hurt myself...or him.  :)  Either way, my Christmas list this year will include a cute little pink piston with my initials engraved on the side.  That's right...I'll be "packing".  Our night ended with dinner with the Hanners and our other great friends Ryan and Mary Powell and their two sweet children, Taylor and baby Cal.  I forget how blessed we were with such good friends during our years in Dawson.  Oh and one more thing about our visit....Allen would kill me if I left this out....he and Julie (she's also from AL and a huge AU fan) taught Taylor how to say "Warrrr Eagle".  The expression on her daddy's face (he's a huge GA fan) was priceless when he heard her!

Before I close for the night, I want to share a few more thoughts.  This week a family that I know from Troy and Ozark was tragically torn apart by the death of a mother and her 14 month old son.  I have really struggled with comprehending what the husband/father must be going through.  There are several times in the day when my mind is on something else and then suddenly goes to the man and I can only imagine how empty he must feel.  I want to take this time to share with each of you how special my family and friends are to me.  So many times we take simple things for granted; like waking up next to the love of our lives or kissing our parents goodbye before we leave home.  In the wake of this horrible accident I hope we all can reflect on the people that truly mean the most to us and try to share our love with them as much as possible.  I also ask that you lift up this family in your prayers.  Especially the husband/father.  Pray that God will wrap His arms around him and give him peace like only our Heavenly Father can.

"OFF" Season, The Flu & American Idol

Well...we're in our "off" season...if you can call it that...and these are some of my favorite days of the year!  Leave school, head to the gym with A, and then home before dark to cook dinner and relax.  Unfortunately, our "off" season is almost over.  Next week starts cheerleader practice to get ready for try-outs the first Friday in April, then practice 2 afternoons a week until summer, then practice 3 days a week leading up to the dreaded "two-a-days" the week before camp!  The cycle never ends...but that's OK because I love it!  And I LOVE the excitement that comes with a new squad!  For Allen, next week starts elementary basketball camp 3 afternoons a week for 4 weeks, then basketball try-outs, then practice leading up to summer camps!  And in all that he's got to find 2 weeks for middle school spring football.  Oh the life of a coach!

For those of you that were not aware, my strapping/healthy husband came down with the FLU the Sunday before last.  He woke up Sunday morning with cough and congestion...layed around all day Monday (thankfully we had a holiday)...and by Tuesday was dead.  OK, maybe not dead, but close enough!  We got him an appointment to see Dr. Alan Young (a.k.a. the Lifesaver) in Enterprise.  Since we are both short on sick days I didn't go to the doc with him.  I knew he must be sick with Dr. Young called me with instructions on how to take care of him...and a warning that he was VERY contagious.  He and I both had to take a round of Tamiflu.  He finally rejoined the land of the living this past Sunday. 

One more quick note before I go...it's that time of year again...time for our favorite reality show...American Idol!  We've been watching the auditions leading up to Hollywood and Las Vegas week and now it's time for the live shows.  Last night we watched the boys perform.  Tonight is the girls' turn.  So far our favorites are Casey Abrams, Lauren Alaina and Paul McDonald.  My money is on Paul McDonald...although I never have and probably never will call in...

P.S.  Still working on my blog/short story "The Jouney That Defines Us"...hoping to be ready to post in a couple of weeks.