I have often heard this Bible verse from 1 Corinthians at weddings I've attended:

Love is always patient and kind; love is never jealous; love is not boastful or conceited, it is never rude and never seeks its own advantage, it does not take offence or store up grievances. Love does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but finds its joy in the truth.

I recently saw a post on Facebook where a mom asked her daughter to place her boyfriend's name in it. It was fabulous! I told Scott about it, and we incorporated it into our RCIA class on Sunday after Church. I also read it to my 8th graders and, even though they giggled as I read, I want to think it touched them deep in their hearts. "When we become more like Jesus, we become the right type of person for someone else to like." I love it, and I hope you do too.

It never rains in California... what's up with me and song snippets today? No really - it never rains. But it is today and most of last week and tomorrow. And then it should be over. Thank God! I am happy Punxsutawney Phil did NOT see his shadow on Saturday and am hopeful Spring is right around the corner - although I read Phil is only 40% accurate in his predictions.  We have a leak in the man cave roof which really rankles my husband so rain rain go away... come again another day. 

Speaking of my husband... we had our first 'dinner party' on Saturday. It was great fun! Scott likes to "flex his culinary muscles" and really outdid himself with a beautiful four-course meal. Everything was home-made from the pasta to the applesauce used in the apple tart. I went shopping that afternoon and when I told the woman at Bed Bath & Beyond I was having a dinner party that night (and it was already 4:30)... she said, "Shouldn't you be at home cooking?" Nope. I haven't cooked in over a year. After dinner we played a game called SPONTUNEOUS which we heard about last summer when we went to the Grand 'Ol Opry. One person would say a word and the rest of us had 15 seconds to sing any song using that word. It was  a crack up. 

Stay dry my friends...

Scott and I just finished putting up our outside Christmas lights... so let the holidays begin! Our tree and inside decorations are also up, and our home is festive and ready for family and friends to help us celebrate the birth of Baby Jesus. My sister and her family arrive from Wisconsin on December 21st. We can't wait!

One of my favorite things to do during the holidays is watch the Kennedy Center Honors. I have my 7th graders write a report on this fabulous cultural event that honors entertainers for their lifetime contributions to American culture. The KCH is pre-recorded and airs December 26th this year on CBS. This year's recipients are: singer and actress Cher, composer and Pianist Philip Glass, Country music entertainer Reba McEntire, jazz saxophonist and composer Wayne Shorter, and a unique KCH Award to the creators of HAMILTON.

Check out my Teachers Pay Teachers store if you know someone who would also like to assign this to their students.  Here it is:  Kennedy Center Honors 2018
                                       

iI am sitting at my desk while the kids are at recess. It has been a crazy week filled with parent conferences & report cards. I had twelve conferences on Wednesday, seventeen on Thursday, and will end today with the final eight. Whew!  Thanksgiving break starts after that, and I have so much to be thankful for. At school I am most grateful for our Junior High Aide who grades paper after paper after paper for me. It is ridiculous how much she accomplishes on a daily basis. Her attention to detail is impeccable, and I don't have to spend three hours each night at home grading papers at the kitchen table. Anyone who teaches Literature & Language Arts knows the amount of writing that needs to be graded! Thank you G for being so wonderful! 

​Gotta go get my kids!

Today is actually my Tuesday as St. Rose of Lima (I think) was the only school in all of Chula Vista that had school on the Veteran's Day holiday. It was a ghost town driving to work, and SEVEN of my kids took the day off. One actually texted a student of mine before school asking if we had school. She told him yes - but he never showed up. Good for him.

Shout out to the VETERANS in my life - my dad and my husband. Thank you for your service!!

Scott and our boys got to sleep in and relax all day. Noah left yesterday afternoon for a St. Augustine Kairos Retreat. I am so proud of Noah. His leadership abilities have blossomed this year, and his Senior year is becoming quite memorable. Nick went on a date yesterday afternoon, Alex spent the day at Eli's house w/her little nephew in the pool, and Jacob went out to dinner to celebrate his cousin's birthday. They sure did take advantage of their day off! Scott and I celebrated my parent's 52nd anniversary with them last night at The Galley. Or as my dad says, "Seventeen wonderful years..." Funny guy.

Please keep praying for the people and animals affected by the California wildfires. Death toll climbs to 42, making it the deadliest wildfire in California history. 

We found the keys! We racked our brain this morning thinking about every possible place they could be. Scott said he was going to check the trash bag in the outside dumpster and - sure enough - there they were sitting right on top. Somebody (we have four teenage boys) had inadvertently let them fall into the trash can. Whew! 

I actually started a blog on Thursday through a different provider, and that didn't last long.
#theytookmymoney  #confusing #startover #idontevenknowhowhashtagsworkijustliketousethem
Thank God for Weebly. Super user friendly. So here I am, and so glad to be here :) Thanks Weebly.

After running to Great Clips to get haircut cards for the kids... do you know about those?
Haircuts are normally $18. Every year on Veteran's Day weekend, Great Clips sells cards for $12.99/haircut. We bought each of the boys a card and loaded it up with 15 haircuts - that should last them a year! Good stocking stuffer. And... with three of our boys driving... they just go when they need a haircut. It is wonderful :) But go get yours - they sell out fast!

So I ran to Great Clips, Target, and the post office... then spent the rest of the afternoon building my blog. Well not all of the afternoon. My husband lost his car keys, and we spent a majority of the afternoon NOT finding them. We looked everywhere. He had gone to Home Depot and SWEARS he put them on the counter, and now they are nowhere to be found. I'm sure we will end up finding them in the freezer or behind the washing machine in the next few weeks. I'll let you know.

Tonight we are off to Karaoke. No - I don't sing. Never have. I go and enjoy my husband who lovingly sings songs to me. Songs like Tennessee Whiskey, Heaven, Turn the Page, Dance, and Drinking Problem are on his list for tonight. His name is Scott, and he is a crooner. You'd like him.

IF I were to sing (and that is probably never going to happen)... my song of choice would be
Top of the World by Karen Carpenter. I had a few glasses of wine last time and actually practiced that song  in the bathroom... but couldn't get my nerve up when opportunity arose. I'm okay with that.