Happiness Is...

C Is For Cookie

And cookies were the perfect way to end this day.  Thanks to Dana and Hope for the unbelievably kind and delicious surprise!  I've already had one or two (or maybe even 3) and they taste as good as they look.  

The past few days have been stressful, to say the least.  Beginning with an early morning phone call from Cole's brother last Thursday that has evolved into the discovery of his dad having a small brain tumor, an interview for me lost, and then 3 (count 'em...3) interviews gained - all on the same day, as well as day surgery for my mom tomorrow.  Crazy!  Don't get too excited about my interviews, though.  They're not for teaching jobs.  They're for instructional assistant jobs.  None of which are on the campus I most want to be on, but I'm excited to find out what the jobs are.  And I would enjoy being in the same place and with the same coworkers and students every day.  

Before I continue, let me back up about a week.  Anyone that knows me, knows that my main goal in life over the past 2 years has been to land a teaching job.  This has been far more difficult than I ever in my wildest dreams anticipated.  And I've been much more consumed with it than I realized.  Some time during the past week (maybe it was last Sunday at church - I honestly don't remember) I heard someone say we should live in the moments that God gives us.  Don't worry about the past or the future, but pay attention to NOW and the blessings surrounding us.  It reminded me of one of my all-time favorite movie lines - "Life moves pretty fast.  If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it" - from Ferris Bueller's Day Off.  And then last night I was working my first night at the local live entertainment venue, and the event was the Hillsong United concert.  I would have attended this concert if not for being an employee.  At first I was scanning tickets, but once the main rush of people were inside, they moved me to the arena floor so I could learn that part of the job, too.  It was hard for me to focus on the job because I was so interested in the concert, and I have to say, it was a really good concert.  Those guys really know how to bring God's word to His people.  At one point in the concert, they played a song called, "Aftermath," and one of the guys was talking, and I can't remember exactly the words he used, but he said basically the same thing.  In case I didn't get the message the first time, I really got it last night.  Yes, I've worked my tail off for 2 years trying to make myself more qualified, and more employable.  And, yes, I wonder all the time what's going to happen tomorrow.  And what if I'm so preoccupied with thinking about what I've done in the past to earn a teaching job and what might happen in the future if I get one (or not) that I'm missing the blessings that God's giving me in the present?  And when I stop and think about the present I can see those blessings and I'm so grateful for every single one of them.  And a plateful of cookies on my doorstep is one of them.  Not only because of the cookies, but because of the 2 people who made them, and the love behind their actions.  This is what I don't want to miss. 

Tomorrow will come and go, as will the interviews, and both surgeries.  Many people have already told us they will be praying for us, and I firmly believe that God has a plan for me (all of us).  Jeremiah 29:11 has become my lifeline during these last couple of years.  I'm so excited to see what God's plan for me is.  And maybe the destination isn't the important part...maybe it's the journey. 

 

What a Weekend

Last weekend was a good one.  Many reasons made it so.  For one, my high school baseball team won the state 5A championship.  Yay, Bucs!!  It was an exciting day to be a Brazoswood alumnus - and probably more so to be a student.  My Texas Longhorns won 2 out of 3 and are headed to the College World Series in Omaha.  Hook 'em!  

But the best thing about last weekend was that it was Kaelin's dance recital.  I love recital weekends because she is surrounded by family and friends who love her enough to come see her dance.  And I especially love to watch her do what she loves.  During her first 2 or 3 recitals she stood on the stage and did nothing - except look adorable.  After 8 years of recitals, she looks like she owns the stage.  She loves dancing and it's obvious.  It does a mother's heart good to watch her kids discover their passion and excel at it.  

This year, because Kaelin is on the dance team, she took 4 classes, meaning she had 4 dances in the recital - ballet, jazz, tap, and hip-hop.  She also did her Tweedle dance in the first recital, which was my favorite dance that her company performed.  I'm including video of her dress rehearsal for her hip-hop and tap dances.  She was really good in both of them.   Way to go, my tiny dancer!!

  

Good For a Little Giggle...

Earlier tonight we ate at Freddy's and Collin helped himself to the lemon that was in my dad's tea.  His reaction was too cute!

 

Long Overdue Update

Cole just told me I need to update my blog.  He's right, of course.  It's been a while since I posted anything.  I really don't have much to say today.  Actually I do, but I'm not in the mood to organize my thoughts into a coherent and meaningful post.  So in lieu of a coherent and meaningful post - that might have changed your life - I'll list some things I'm thankful for.  That's always a good thing to do, right?  Here I go:

1.  Cole

2.  Brendan, Kaelin, and Collin

Those were probably too predictable, right?

3.  That my parents are moving about 5 minutes from us.  Really, I'm thankful for that.  : )

4.  The love, support, and prayers of lots of friends while searching for a job.  It's been an emotional and psychological beatdown.  I think I would have given up by now if not for their encouragement.  The search isn't over, but I know I can keep going.

5.  A house to live in.

6.  A car to drive.

7.  That Cole has a job.  Thanks, Velcro USA!!

8.  Our cat, Cookie.  I can't imagine not having her as a pet.  She is so loved.

9.  Good health for Cole, me, and the kids.  

10.  My church.

11.  Friends near and far.

12.  That my cousin, Kelly, lives in San Antonio now and we get to see her several times a year.

13.  Summer reading.

14.  Friends close to us who love my children and treat them like their own.

15.  That God has given each of my children talents, abilities, and passions beyond anything I could have imagined or wanted for them.

16.  The ability to blog and the right to say anything I want on my blog.

17.  My college education.  Hook 'em!

18.  Air conditioning.

19.  My Keurig.

20.  The community in which I live.  I love it here and I'm so glad to live in a place with a lot of other families and great opportunities for my kids to learn and grow.  

So there you have it...20 things that I'm thankful for at this very moment.  That was actually fun...you should try it yourself.  What are you thankful for?