Cheering UP!

Hello friends!

It has been a few days since I posted and there is much to share! It has been a good week and I am feeling cheery once again! I know that grief will come and go, but for now it feels good to be 'myself' again. No big decisions have been made on my parents home or their belongings...Tom and I both discussed that there is no hurry to rush on anything. So, I am going to take a litte longer to think things through so I can make smart decisions when the time comes. My parents would have wanted that too!

My mom and dad after 40 wonderful years of marriage! This is how I picture them right now in heaven, spending eternity together. This picture, and that image make me smile.

I've been busy working on a special blog for the scholarship fund, and hope to have it ready soon. I am anxious to see how the funds collected on behalf of my parents, will go to help other educators and students. I so want to make my parents proud by how the recipients chosen use their scholarships to help others. I will keep you posted!

In other news, Ashlyn auditioned for the children's "praise team" at church and was invited to participate, so she is thrilled to be able to sing and dance for an audience now! (Shhh, don't tell Ashlyn, but I mentioned to the leader up front that she had great enthusiasm for the Lord, but really couldn't carry a tune...that enthusiasm must have done the trick since she made the team! Ashlyn did say to me though, "Mom the music is so loud that I can't hear myself sing!" Hmmm...enough said... :-)

I worked in her 2nd grade classroom today and had a great time. There is nothing like spending time with kids to lift my mood and feed my love of teaching! Once I am in that setting I realize how much I love to teach, and how much I miss it. One parent saw me in the parking lot and asked when I would be resuming our "Enrichment Friday" class again. Up until today, with my mom's passing, I had been feeling sad, and not particulary cheerful or ready to jump back into a high energy class, but perhaps starting back up again with the kids would be the perfect medicine!

Kyle is working hard at school and music and we are anxious for our upcoming conferences. He missed the frog dissection in science since we were in CA for the funeral at that time...I'm trying to figure out how I can recreate the experiment for him as I didn't want him to have to miss out on such a neat experience. Do you think you can buy dead frogs and a lesson plan over the internet? On second thought, perhaps I will see if the science teacher has another solution!

Some happy news to share...my girlfriend Sofia, who happens to be my friend and a decorator, is coming to visit me next week! We are going to visit and spend time together, but she is also coming to help me decorate! I love to find ways to make our home warm and inviting, but over the past year with my many distractions and worries, I didn't have much time to put into fabric, paint selections, etc...I will be sure and share with you our "before and after" photos during Sofia's visit!

Lastly, I wanted to extend a BIG thank you to Cheryl from "Peaceful Blessings" (http://cherylpgerald.blogspot.com/) for her awesome "Very Vintage Valentine Swap" package! Cheryl knew I loved apples and roosters, so I received a wonderful care package of goodies...from candies, apple dishtowels, an apple pie plate, candle, beautiful notecards, etc...she sent me a full package of fun and love! Thank you so much Cheryl!!!!

Wishing you all a wonderful end to the week, and until next time, live life fully and savor every moment! :-)