HOLIDAY!

We have escaped the BC rain and are sitting quite nicely on the sundeck of Mike`s parents apartment. We are overlooking a runway of Pearson International and about every 3 minutes we see a plane coming in from somewhere.

I wonder where people are going. Where have they been. What stories can they tell.

We tell the stories of our trip. Of the traffic jam at the tunnel. Of almost missing our flight. Of being ushered to the gate in the golf cart. Of having to wait while they load our luggage. Of forgetting our lunch. Of our first take off and cruising altitude. Of games, stories, and new toys. Of falling asleep during landing.

We tell the story of our 4 year old`s first plane trip. Of meeting our 10 year old after her adventures in Newfoundland. Of a Dad`s 80th birthday. Of the smells of warm meat `cooked to death`by mom. We watch the intercom TV as our own reality TV channel. We listen to the laundry drying in the wind. We hear the cicadas buzz. We wish the powerlines were not blocking the view of the CN tower.

Leisurely coffee times.
Snooping in the cookie cupboard.
Playing silly games with Grandpa.
Remembering to use our manners.

Our family holiday begins.
Follow our adventure.

You look like your... uh... mom....

So, i caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror and happened to only see my body sans head.
heh.
I look like my mom.
For years I have been told I look like my dad`s side. But, after a year of uncaring, the softness of my thirty-somethingness is becoming quite obvious.
The muffin top.
The not-quite-gone baby fat.
Thighs.
The squishyness that is now me.

Fit by 40. My new goal.

A year ago, I would have looked and hated what I saw. I would have said a whole load of lies-- things that made me hate me.

Now, a Heart Restored. Full of the truth of Life. A much better way to live.

But, fit by 40. A new reality. A new goal. A new life. A new me.

I promise.... after this bowl of m&ms...

hey June.

June=

Field trips.
Permission Slips.
Musicals.
Recitals.
Baseball games.
No jackets.
Sports Day.
Fun Fair.
Farmer's Market.
Barbeque for dinner.
Popsicles.
Ponytails.
One more daycare cheque.
Stanley Cup playoffs.
Shorts to school.
Introduction to deodorant (for my students).
Flip flops.
Long days that seem to zoom by.
Report Cards to write.
Cleaning out the desks.
Saying Goodbye friends.
Saying Hello Summer.

Gosh, We're good looking...

www.sharaleeprangphotography.com

I haven't been blogging much lately.
I've been planning a wedding.
I've been working.
A LOT.
But, you know, now and then, we clean up real nice.
Here's a little photo of us at my sister's wedding on the Easter weekend.
It was a perfect Spring day.
Love and lovely.
Can't complain.

When I'm done work, I'm planning to blog on all my adventures this summer.
Stay tuned.
I'll try to be witty and funny.

The New Guy

I'm on a committee at my church called "creative team". We plan the visuals, the media, the stage design. You know, the creative stuff.

It's a crazy time.

The only agenda we have is to come up with something creative.

And that's where the agenda ends. Hopefully at the end of an hour and a half we've come up with something. This is often a series of rabbit trails, shouting ideas, using a flippy chart, checking out websites, editing videos... Mostly, we try to find a creative way to get the message across.

It can get a little nuts. (I have to admit, it's usually my fault. I am all over the place in my popcorn-brain! Just call me the queen of "random").

Someone should have warned the new guy.

It should have been part of his interview.

I'm not sure if he knew what hit him. He politely thanked us all at the end, but I'm certain he drove home shaking his head.

He took it all in stride, but he's leading the meetings from now on.

So, as a "veteran" on this committee, I am offering some words of wisdom:

* start on time, end 90 min. later-- things go completely off the wall after 90 minutes.

* make sure the coffee is decaf.

* encourage the cookie-maker to keep coming back!

* you have to hum and whistle at the same time. It keeps us focussed.

* we will always have your back, even if we don't agree on the title you came up with for the sermon series

* we will provide constructive criticism, but don't get bogged down in the negative unless you know you can learn from it.

* go home for dinner

* surround yourself with mentors and good friends

* pray always

* sing

* know your purpose

* recognize that you are part of a divine plan

* be approachable

* communicate well

* laugh with us and at us

* celebrate success and failures

Welcome, new guy. We're glad to have you.

do's and don'ts

I have blog envy.

I don't sew.

I don't cook fancy, healthy, or exotic meals.

I don't scrapbook.

I don't decorate.

I can't figure out how to post photos.

Basically, I don't have it all together.

My blog is just a bunch of crazy things that I ha

ve in my head. I'm inviting others into my world of random, unconnected thoughts. It's like living in a popcorn maker.

So, if you like it, I'm glad. If you don't, I'm not going to apologize.

Things I do well:

Watch TV.

Take care of my kids.

Find great deals online.

Make cookies.

Vacuum.

Shop.

Laundry.

Pray.

Paint (walls, not pictures).

It's not a fancy, topical, perfect world. It's just me.

That about sums it up.

TOC.. ya, you know me.

I am a TOC. For those of you who don't know what that is, it's a politically correct term that means "substitute teacher." I'm sure the mere mention of the words "substitute teacher" conjurs up memories of switching names, moving desks, spitball wads and passing notes. Gotta say, not much has changed.

Except for me.

I am now the one who is intercepting the notes and cleaning up the spit wads. I answer the phone at 5:45 and listen to the recorded voice that tells me where to go and when to be there. I'm the one who can teach at a moment's notice.

I'm like a fireman, but with books. I'm like supernanny, but with school kids. I'm here to spend the day with the kids and not get killed in the process.

A few high/ low lights of this job:

-I was sent to a grade 9 Drama class. There were 20 boys and 2 girls. That many pubescent, behaviour kids should not be allowed in the same room. I almost quit that day.

-Grade 1--it's PJ day in an inner-city school. Little boy at the back is being defiant and won't sit in his seat. Changes from a little boy to a turtle, using his housecoat as a shell and poking his head out at regular intervals. Heh.

-No report cards. This is a highlight.

-I can leave 10 minutes after the bell rings and don't have to take any marking home. Another highlight.

-Student to me: Wow, you're tall.

Me: Yes, I know!

Student: How old are you?

Me: How old do you think I am?

Student: 18.

Me: You're right.

Student #2: My mom's older than you, but you're still taller.

(Apparently how tall you are determines your age... not that I'm complaining! Gotta love the mind of a 6 year old!)

-5:45 phone call. I am not a morning person. I hate this part of the job. Today, I was called at 10 AM-- "can you come right now??" "Sure."

See.

Just like a fireman-- ready in 5 minutes.