Snow Day

There's nothing like found time. That extra five minutes in your day. Or an extra 2,880 of them.
School was cancelled Monday and Tuesday.
I used the time wisely. As did the hubs, who ventured out into the snow with me and my camera.
We walked until our toes and fingers were numb. We rushed back inside to dry clothes and hot drinks.
I reveled in the beauty of the day. There's nothing like found time.

 This is for the birds!



 I will miss being walking distance from the river when we move.
(I've been editing in Picnik these days.)



 Catalog shot?

There are still traces of fall in the south as winter pushes it's way in. 

I could almost forget completely the world of assessments, lesson plans, and report cards that awaits me tomorrow.

"Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;

Wash me and I shall be whiter than snow."

Psalm 51:7

Today's list:

1. Two emails in six days. 5 or 6 more days to go. It's that time again.
2. Maybe one day there'll be a good reason for a real Christmas tree.
3. If it has to rain, at least it is a Saturday. Good for staying inside and my students don't miss out on recess. My perennials are perky again.
4. You connect with who you connect with. You can't make everyone happy. I'm so thankful for my closest friends.
5. A Christmas tree and "It's A Wonderful Life". The perfect way to end this Saturday.

A Thanksgiving Feast

beautiful centerpiece

 Can't contain the excitement!

  Shane and Adam

enjoying a turkey leg

Jenn's homemade whipped cream

 the funfetti tradition continues

A low key day with friends, food, the Macy's parade, and Clue.

Thankful for food, friends, and a day of rest.



I sometimes feel I am caught in this in-between life. A life of a military spouse and the life of a civilian spouse. Sometimes life gets normal enough, if only for a moment, for me to forget that my husband is a Marine. I sometimes find myself yearning for that normalcy. A house somewhere far from here, a 9-5 job, dinner with my husband every night.

But this life. This crazy never-knowing-when-he's-coming-or-going, nights-weeks-or-months-apart, moving-and-never-quite-feeling-settled life. This life is....Opening the car door and finding my husband's helmet and flak jacket. Watching helicopters take off, fly around, and land all from the comfort of my front porch. Helicopters coming in for a landing buzzing right over my car so close I think I might be able to touch them. A sea of green running in formation. That slick blue uniform with gold buttons and white pants. Insignia in every drawer of the desk. That leather aviator jacket in the coat closet. A green cover on the end table that tells me he's home. Last name and rank on the front of the house. Artillery firing at random times of day or night. The days when American flags line the light posts adorned with yellow ribbons welcoming them home. This life comes with a sense of adventure and a calling.

What is "normalcy" anyway? I am ever so thankful for this life. This man. My Marine.

Everyone has a story. This one just happens to be mine.

Fall Fun

Most of the things going on around here are boring. Lesson plans, lesson plans, training, grocery shopping, oil changes. But every once in a while we manage to have a bit of fun.

This past weekend our OCF bible study had a get together featuring chili, pumpkin carving, smores, games, and good company.

It was a beautiful fall day.

Our Pumpkin




This is how far Adam got into carving before deciding.....He wanted cookies instead.

And to play with the bow and arrow.



Anna did manage to con him into helping her carve her pumpkin though.

Luckily this time Adam's attention span lasted longer than the three year old's...

We got competitive with a cookie eating contest using only your face muscles to get the cookie from your forehead to your mouth:

The kids enjoyed dancing with each other,

and roasting smores.

The evening ended with good fun games and vanilla lattes.  What a fun night and a blessing to be a part of OCF and the bible study here in Jacksonville.

A Beach Wedding

Our wonderful new second grade teacher was married last weekend.
Our second grade team took a trip to Holden Beach, NC to witness the event.
And so I could play with my new camera.
And eat cake.

It was a gorgeous day!

 Look who caught the garter...



Flood Day

September has been a blur.

  

And now it is over.

North Carolina is not infamous for snow days, but we do get the occasional flood day.

School was cancelled and an "optional" work day was put in place for teachers. I left work early for fear they would close the last open road that would lead back to my house.

I caught up on housework.

Warm cider.

A friend.

Schoolwork.

And rest.

I need a good flood day every now and again.

As long as the water doesn't rise any closer to my porch.