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!

Puppy Visit '09/Deck Construction

We are having so much fun with Heupel and Ellie! Garrett and Meghan did not get to stay long enough, but we are glad to keep the puppies for awhile! Garrett had to go back to Houston last week to prepare for camp and Meghan drove up to Kansas to stay with her sister and meet her baby niece! Heupel and Ellie have been at camp weiner-ville for about 10 days. The dogs get along great, but they sure do miss their mommy and daddy! Below is a picture of all six Hollingsworth Hounds :)

Ever since Phil and Christie moved into their house, they have known that the back deck needed to be replaced. Cameron had intentions of doing this last summer, but we ended up having hip surgery instead. This summer we finally tackled the project. We started by tearing down the existing deck which didn't take long considering most of it was rotted!

I was able to help some with the demolition, but once the construction started - it's been mostly the boys' project. Cameron is acting as foreman of this operation and is doing a great job! It's going to look great once it is totally done. I'll keep you posted :)

One Year Check Up in St Louis!

When we got back from Mexico we had two days at home to unpack, do laundry, and repack before heading back on the road to St. Louis! Cameron had his one year follow up appointment, and Christie had a 5 month check up. This visit was SO much easier and laid back then previous visits. No one was on crutches, wheelchairs, walkers... We got to visit all of our hot spots! We drove up on Monday - ate at Little Tokyo in Springfield (our favorite Japanese place!) We stopped at the biggest candy store ever to pick up some "Sassy Taffy"! Unloaded the car at the hotel and then drove down the street to Imo's (our favorite pizza in the world!) Somehow this trip always turns into a foodfest! Tuesday we slept in a little bit, then made our way to the hospital for the appts. I think the surgeon is a great person, but not very personable... is that just how surgeons are? Mostly introverted? Anyways, we were asking him about the screws in Cameron's hip. Last year he told us we should get them out after a year, now he's telling us they don't have to come out... We were confused so we asked for Madeline (she's another doctor that works with our surgeon) and she did a better job at guiding us to a decision. Cameron will probably go back in January when his mom goes for her one year check up, and have an out patient procedure to remove the screws. We hit up the mall that afternoon to our favorite food court (more japanese food!) then grabbed some White Castle on the way to see the Cardinals! It was the best weather ever to see a game. Cool with a little breeze and no rain! Plus the Cardinals beat the Tigers 11-2, so all around it was a stellar night (despite my White Castle burger being slimy by the time we got to the game...gross).