Easter Sunday

I am thankful for His love for us. That He would die, lay in a grave, and rise from the dead. Sweep me away with your overwhelming love, Lord! (wordle)

Bring Spreak

Thank goodness for spring break, 2011!

Life has been insanely busy on the professional side of things - conferences last week, revision unit all wrapped up today (now on to grading those 95 puppies), planning novel curriculum for when we return (Tangerine by Edward Bloor), making work packets to get failing kids caught up, finishing up registration for next year, planning a retreat for next year's mentors this spring, etc.

In my personal life, I'm planning lessons to teach to a group of students from China this summer. The all star cheer season "wrapped-up" only to start again April 11. It is play-off hockey time, and the Chiefs are up 3-1 in a seven game series against Chilliwack. At the end of the month (hello, April!), I will help a local ministry put on a conference for young girls.

I love my life, but I have to figure out balance. There are so many more things I wish I could add-in, but I obviously cannot. Here are my "wish-list" items to add...

daily workouts
read for pleasure
paint: moulding, entryway, rec room, husky room, and "man cave"
clean out the garage and donate our crap stuff
vacuum out the cars
cook healthy, balanced meals
clean out my closet and go "re-fill" shopping
create some fun art projects to hang on the walls of my home
rake the leaves that got buried under our November snow
get my hair cut (bangs, anyone?)
get my nails painted with "shellac"
steal a weekend away for some girl time
steal a weekend away to Vegas!
install the above-mentioned moulding (might need hubby's help for this)
sleep
clean my house

What do you want to accomplish with the time you've been given?

Snow Day = Blog Day

I am not a profesh blogger by any means. Today, we had a snow day due to crazy winds and snow. This is the first snow day of the year, so I thought I would use it wisely. What better activity than blogging my day away? I couldn't think of one. Unfortunately, I am teaching myself how to design my blog and make it make sense, so it is still very amateur. I figured out how to add some new tags, friends, etc. but I still feel like my blog is lacking something extravagant. I only have two friends that follow right now - so this is really just for fun at this point in time. I know someday I will enter the world of "mom blogs," but we're not quite there yet! I am now so much more fascinated by this whole blog world. People really put some time into this - time I'm worried I don't have. Between teaching, coaching, my home, my marriage, my friends - I am tapped out! That is why I am grateful for this snow day. Any free time I didn't plan on having originally is a gift to me! What could be better than catching up on Gossip Girl and maneuvering my way through the tangled web of blog land. Any tips to help me out? I'd love to hear 'em. Until next time...

i.love.wintertime

I mean seriously - look at that!? This pic was taken a couple of Sundays ago at my parents' lake home on Loon Lake, WA. Family and friends skating, a pick-up game of hockey, and dogs chasing pucks all around. I love the balance of structure and chaos that winter brings. There is school, so life is pretty structured (at least for a teacher lady like me), but there is also the chaotic feeling that the weather causes us to experience. For instance: Will it snow? Will we have school? Ohp! Two weeks off for Christmas and New Years! Ohp! Two Mondays off for MLK and the Presidents! I'm okay with it. Also - I thankfully live in a warm home with warm clothes and plenty of warm food. Many do not. That is why winter also pushes us to be more giving and forgiving of others. Did I mention -BAM- the beginning of a new year is in the middle of this lovely season as well? What a fresh start, a new beginning, a chance to re-define yourself. Right in the midst of cold, snow, wind, and ice. The juxtaposition of death and new life is held in perfect balance during the winter season. Cold? Throw on a scarf. Hot? Take off your top layer. I love it. Did I also mention one of my favorite classic novels is set in the winter season? Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton is one of my faves. I read it as a senior in AP English, and I think I'm quite due to read it again. I leave you with a quote from the novel:
"When I had been there a little longer, and had seen this phase of crystal clearness followed by long stretches of sunless cold; when the storms of February had pitched their white tents about the devoted village and the wild cavalry of March winds had charged down to their support; I began to understand why Starkfield emerged from its six months’ siege like a starved garrison capitulating without quarter" (Wharton).