These are a few of my favorite things!

Getting a text before my alarm goes off telling me to turn my alarm off and go back to bed. 
Watching the morning news in bed because I can.
Listening to the weather man say how horrible it is going to be outside and urging everyone to stay inside all day.
Catching the last few minutes of a Saved by the Bell episode.
Falling back asleep after flipping back to the morning news.
Waking up an hour later to breakfast being served in bed. 
Going to the grocery store with Cameron in sweats, no make up, and not caring. 
Staying on the couch with Cameron all day long with the fireplace going. 
Watching an entire season of a new TV series addiction. 
Starting season 2 of our new TV series addiction. 
The smell of a homemade pot of chili simmering on the stove. 
Being able to stay up late on a weekday because school has already been called off tomorrow. 
...having time to blog about the perfect day. 

I loved being "iced" in! As long as the power stays on... 
Stay warm my friends!

My Poor Neglected Blog

Seriously? Haven't posted since October 24th... Well sorry about that November. Let's quickly recap...
Halloween - fine. Didn't get to pass out candy in the new house which was a little sad, but we went to our college group reunion. Good times. 
November was just a lot of running. I ran my second half marathon with Mandy the weekend before Thanksgiving. We ran the Route 66 half marathon in Tulsa.

It was a beautiful route and would do it again. This year we managed to stay together till mile 12! I pooped out and had to walk/run the last mile, but Mandy trudged through till the end! I did beat my time in April by 7 minutes! 
Thanksgiving was awesome. Got to spend some quality R&R with mom and dad in Bville. Plus I didn't feel one bit guilty about eating since I had just done all that running :) 

Now December is upon us. Where did the time go?!? Excited for Christmas and the 2 WEEKS OFF!!! It gives me time to truly appreciate how much I love my students... and maybe catch up on the blog...

Happy Birthday Cameron!

Cameron turns 26 today! I try to convince him that he is turning a year older than he really is every year, but it never works. One of these days when he is old and senile, I hope that he will finally be convinced that he is older than me...

We celebrated his b-day last night with the family by going to Cheddar's and back to our house for cake and ice cream. Academy also knew it was Cameron's birthday weekend, so they went ahead and opened last night for Cameron... or so we like to believe. We went again today thus completely proving our latest shopping addiction.

Ran in the Monster dash this morning with Mandy. Mandy finished 3rd in her age group, and I finished 4th in mine. Yay us! (Not sure how many ran in my age group, but I like to think at least 50 or so... haha. It was probably more like 5...)

Here are some pics of the birthday boy!

There is a Reason...

 So I haven't blogged in awhile... mostly for lack of material! It's very easy for me to get in the daily grind and forget to look for the memorable moments. Lately I've been rather blah. Mostly because I get frustrated when life doesn't happen exactly the way I have it planned in my mind. Hmmm... sound familiar? Yes, that would be my ultimate villain in life - myself. I haven't ran all week (yes, coming from the girl who is a month away from the half marathon...) mostly because of self pity or lame excuses. So today I got off my keester and went for a run. We also bought Halloween candy this weekend and one too many "taste tests" left me feeling a little flabby. With my motivation to burn off the candy calories, I set my phone to my "Smellin' Coffee" genius playlist (love itunes for the genius feature by the way). I felt the need to hear some uplifting music. About half way through the run, this song "There is a Reason" by Caedmon's Call started playing. I heart Caedmon's Call. They have always been one of my favorite bands since high school. The lyrics are below and the second half of my run below that!

late at night I wonder why
sometimes I wonder why
sometimes I’m so tired
I don’t even try
seems everything around me fails
but I hold on to the promise
that there is a reason

late at night, the darkness makes it hard to see
the history of the saints who’ve gone in front of me
through famine, plague and disbelief
His hand was still upon them
cause there is a reason
there is a reason

he makes all things good
he makes all things good
there’s a time to live and a time to die
a time for wonder and to wonder why
cause there is a reason
there is a reason

I believe in a God who sent His only son
to walk upon this world and give His life for us
with blood and tears on a long, dark night
we know that He believed
that there is a reason
there is a reason

for the lonely nights
and broken hearts
the widow's mite
in the rich man's hand
and the continent
whose blood becomes a traitor

for the child afraid to close their eyes
the prayers that seem unanswered
there is a reason
there is a reason

 This song was just what I needed to hear. There is a reason, and God does make all things good. There is a reason that my life doesn't happen the way I plan it. I can only see my future through a tiny peephole. God sees my future as fields and open acres. He sees it from beginning to end. I see from minute to minute. Even though it's hard to let go, I am so grateful that life does not go MY way. 

As my feet were pounding the pavement to this song I started thinking - God is in control of my life, I am in control of my decisions. God can chose the course, I can chose how to react. I can be a companion in the passenger's seat, or I can be the worst back seat driver ever. God is in control, I am in control of my decisions. 

One year for Christmas, I got a sweatshirt that said "I Want What I Want When I Want It - Spoiled Brat". It was an inside joke in my family because as the baby I usually got what I wanted all the time! Well, truth is, I don't always get what I want when I want it, and thank God for that! 

Dear Drunk Girls Who Sat Infront of Us Last Night

I would like to take this opportunity to express how much of a disgrace you are to the Sooner Nation...
First, it's football - not the club. Please leave tube top dresses and cowboy boots at home.
Secondly, I understand that in the student section at home- which you have probably sat for 6 years now, this being your 3rd senior year and all, that you prefer to stand during the game. I understand- I've sat in the student section before too. However, we're not at Owen Field and when you have people over the age of 75 sitting behind you, it is common courtesy to stay seated so they can also enjoy the game which they paid good money for. It is not polite to talk back to elders that nicely ask you to sit down so they can see. It is especially rude to curse about me to your friends for choosing to respect those behind me that have cheered for our Sooners much longer than we have.
Thirdly, please do not take advantage of your parents who pay both for your tuition and living expenses. Each of you spending over $60 on alcohol in one evening is quite ridiculous.
That brings me to my fourth point, please know your limits. When the "beer man" walks by- one at a time is plenty. He comes around often enough, so please don't feel in a rush to chug the last half of your beverage and obligate yourself to buy two more every 15 minutes. That is wasteful- and you don't have brain cells to go wasting around right now. Also, when you are struggling to find bills totaling $8, you have gone beyound your limit. Remember, 5 plus 4 does not equal 8.
And lastly, please do not come to the game if you are just going to get wasted and distract those around you all night. You can do the same at home, on your couch, for much less money.

Sincerely,
Lori

Hopes for Year #4

Thursday begins my fourth year of teaching. This year will be different in a lot of ways. Cameron is out of school and working full time and he leaves BEFORE I do everyday! I'll also be the After School Detention teacher this year. Hopefully my mean face will be mastered soon! 


I have a few hopes for this year... 


I hope that my students will feel loved by me. 
I hope they will feel important and valuable in my classroom. 
I hope that I have enough energy to give them the attention they deserve - even the quiet ones. 
I hope that only positive words will flow from my mouth so that when the negative ones appear they will be more meaningful. 
I hope my classroom is a place full of laughter and learning.
I hope to be an encourager to my colleagues.
I hope to be a cheerleader for my students. 
I hope that my students' well being will outweigh their potential test score. 
I hope that I will be more self reflective to learn what I need and what I can give as an educator. 


And most importantly... 
I hope I will leave at or before 5:00 everyday. 

Home Owners!

The past month has been a blur... we put in an offer on July 10th and closed on our new home July 31st! We got settled in really quickly thanks to a wonderful crew of family and friends! We painted the first night, had the carpets cleaned on Saturday and slept in the new house Saturday night, then moved the rest on Sunday! What a whirlwind. 


We are really happy, but still feel like we are playing "house" sometimes! Cameron is leaving the house early everyday for work now, and I have stayed busy putting things away and organizing the house. The clock is ticking because school starts next week! Eek! 


BEFORE: Painting over the rainbow of colors, cleaning up the AC leak, moving in:

AFTER: Partially moved in pics

COME SEE US!