My Joy Bucket

As I was running this morning and it was lightly snowing, I thought I would burst with joy and peace that was filling my soul. Don't you love those moments? The snow and the run were just filling my "joy" bucket! Ha. Ha. Christmas was so wonderful and again, the older you get, the more you realize that it is not the gifts but the people. The first night that Ben & Anna came home from OBU, we were just lounging around watching tv and chatting away. They were going on & on about being excited for Christmas and I asked them, "Why? Because of the gifts?" They looked at me like I had a 3rd eye and said, "NO! Because we get to spend time with all of the 'familia' and it's always so much fun!" This comment exemplified Christmas for me!

I spent Christmas Eve with 4 of my sisters (minus one who lives in Georgia) and their families. Bobby was able to join us and this made it extra special. Sylvia, my eldest sister, had her boys there with their families (plus 2 new grand-babies!). It's awesome to see your nephews with families! Then Christmas Day, we traveled to my sister Dahlia's house in Amarillo and feasted on pork tenderloin for dinner. That evening, I was able to be with Bobby and all of his family as they had their Christmas celebration. Such a blessing as his four girls were all there and that was truly a joy for everyone!

Ben, Anna, and I have enjoyed our mornings during this Christmas holiday. It's so nice to not have a 'schedule' and to just lounge around, read, watch movies, and catch up with each other. We just watched "Horton Hears a Who" and were just rolling on the floor laughing. I thought to myself, "Who would have thought I'd be enjoying this type of movie with an 18 yr old and a 20 yr old?"

So, as I recall the earlier Questionnaire Blog & it's question about 4 things on my Wish List.... well, I have received 3 of the 4. The massage is still "out there". But after the rest and relaxation that I have been experiencing these last 6 days, I don't much need the massage anymore....no stress here!!! Now, talk to me in a few weeks, after school is back in session and then I might be telling a different story! Well, let's not think about that now - ha! I will end this blog by saying that I am going to go finish my novel, "The Bonesetter's Daughter" by Amy Tan (awesome read!). Ben is downstairs reading his 3rd book of the 3 book set from, "The Giver". Anna and John Mark (her bf) are working on a 550 piece puzzle that they are almost done with!!

I got tagged!

Rules:
1. Post rules on your blog.
2. Answer the six "4" items.
3. Let each person know they have been tagged by leaving them a comment.

4 Things I Did Yesterday:
Had 3 Classroom Christmas Parties (3 more to go!! yikes!)
Watched tv show "Eli Stone" with Bobby and his parents
Had homemade peach pie that Bobby made (he's a baker...who would've thunk?)
Made 2 dozen Rugelach Cookies for Borger High Christmas Goodie Day

4 Things On My Wish List:
a massage (I am right there with you Holly!)
to thoroughly enjoy the Christmas break with my kids, Ben and Anna
to thoroughly REST during my Christmas break
to do lots & lots of reading during Christmas break

4 Things I Look Forward to:
the 14 exquisite days off that I am fixing to start beginning tomorrow at 12:30 pm!
Christmas and it's true meaning
Grandkids someday
Heaven

4 Restaurants I like: P
Cheddar's
Kabuki's
Tacos Garcia
Coffee Ranch

4 Favorite TV Shows:
Eli Stone
Jon & Kate Plus Eight
Naked Archealogist
Law & Order

4 People I Tag (You're it): only one...Kaci Lusk!!

I got tagged!

Rules:
1. Post rules on your blog.
2. Answer the six "4" items.
3. Let each person know they have been tagged by leaving them a comment.

4 Things I Did Yesterday:
Had 3 Classroom Christmas Parties (3 more to go!! yikes!)
Watched tv show "Eli Stone" with Bobby and his parents
Had homemade peach pie that Bobby made (he's a baker...who would've thunk?)
Made 2 dozen Rugelach Cookies for Borger High Christmas Goodie Day

4 Things On My Wish List:
a massage (I am right there with you Holly!)
to thoroughly enjoy the Christmas break with my kids, Ben and Anna
to thoroughly REST during my Christmas break
to do lots & lots of reading during Christmas break

4 Things I Look Forward to:
the 14 exquisite days off that I am fixing to start beginning tomorrow at 12:30 pm!
Christmas and it's true meaning
Grandkids someday
Heaven

4 Restaurants I like: P
Cheddar's
Kabuki's
Tacos Garcia
Coffee Ranch

4 Favorite TV Shows:
Eli Stone
Jon & Kate Plus Eight
Naked Archealogist
Law & Order

4 People I Tag (You're it): only one...Kaci Lusk!!

Is it 4:30 am????

Yes,I got up at 4:30 am this morning! Egad! It's funny though because my dad has been with me the last week and a half and I guess I am used to getting up with him. He left last night to go back to my sister's which is where he is at permanently. It's sad but I kind of miss him. I miss fixing him his oatmeal and visiting with him after my a.m. run and before going off to work. I will also miss the TV being parked on the old westerns on AMC and sitting and watching them with him. I miss him telling me to "bundle up and to check my tires in my car and to drive safely". What a lovable dad. When you lose your mom, you cherish the time with the other parent. Now, if he lived with me permanently, I might say otherwise! Lol.

I spent all of last night reading! I have not done that in forever! I came home and took my dad to my sister's and then read from 6pm - 10pm! It is a great book, "The Last Sin Eater". I loved, loved, loved it! The writing style is similar to Katherine Paterson (Bridge to Terabithia, Jacob Have I Loved, etc). Anyway, it has an awesome message and very well written. Read it if you get the chance!

Anna and Ben are almost set to substitute teach. Yeah! I am so proud of them. They come home next Thursday'ish. Can't wait. They will be home for 6 weeks on & off (between visiting their dad in Oklahoma). It will be nice to have them home again. The next semester at OBU doesn't start until Jan. 29th! I asked them if they were willing to substitute teach at the high school level (for me!) and they said, "NO WAY!" ha. ha.

I am so thankful that next week is the last week of school. It has gone by fast and for that I am thankful. I am also thankful that the semester does not end next week. We, teachers, are usually going crazy giving semester exams, grading exams, turning in grades, getting semester grades finalized, getting kids' to turn in make up work, etc, etc, etc. It makes the last week before Xmas most *CRAZY*. Thank God that it won't be this way this Christmas. I might even end up working just a 40 hour work week next week in comparison to my normal 50-55 hour week....wow! If I do, it will be the first time!

So now it is 6 am and I guess I can go on my a.m. run and then go to work. Don't try getting a hold of me tonight though because I will be snoozing away at 7 pm probably!!!!!