Christmas Spirit...

Due to the fact I am in Washington for Christmas, without Sai, I was slightly in a humbuggie mood this year. I did not put a Christmas tree, and had no intention of hanging up lights, but I did in a moment of weakness. It is definitely only a small part of my usual . But it is festive and one of my neightbors told me she leaves her blinds open so she can look at them. I also made goodie plates for my neighbors, and for my Instructional Leaders meeting.
Again, I love the holidays because I get to make food, that other people can enjoy. And Sai and I also enjoy sampling all the yummy things.
This was my best divinity to date.
Very Exciting!!!!

Aahh...I am enjoying winter break.

Sai is at her dad's for Christmas this year, so we did Christmas early at my mom's on our way up to Ellensburg. Her cousin X-man was VERY helpful. :)

Personal Space???

Just recently it seems that I am no longer allowed personal space.

I come home and when I sit down here come the pets...

First, Max jumps up and cuddles up to me, and then of course Tabitha is not going to stand for Max to get more lovin' than her. Finally, Buttercup jumps up and gets as close as she dares.

Sigh Now how can I possibly get up and accomplish anything????

November 30th...

Fourteen years ago on this day I lost my best friend and sister, after a bruttle and long battle with cancer.

In so many ways she is my hero, she was so brave through the whole ordeal, and her sense of humor saved us all as we struggled with her battle and her loss of that battle.

I just want kiss her bald head, she had a beautiful head. :)

We shared EVERYTHING!!!! And not always willingly, she was my polar opposite, which kept me grounded. I miss her beyond measure.

I can honestly say that some of my biggest regrets are with things I didn't do with her.

We talked about taking a road trip, but I worried too much about the money. I didn't get to share an apartment with her and go to college together.

I didn't tell my dear friend, that my sister was dying.

I robbed him of his chance to say goodbye, all because I allowed a jerk to control my life.

I wasn't there when she died.

But I have learned many things about myself and life since she died.

First of all, it is only money, you only live once, treasure every moment.

Treasure every moment you have with the ones you love and care for.

Don't beat yourself up, because you made stupid choices.

Just be sure to learn from them. :)

Which I work on doing everyday.

This leads me to my First Happy November 30th in a long time.

On November 30th, a daughter was born to a student I had my first year teaching at THS.

It is shocking to me that this is my 6th year teaching here. That is the longest I have ever stayed in one place.

My student babysat Sai, help me move into my house, and after she graduated would come and visit with me for hours.

My student became my friend.

I love it when I make the connection with a student and that connection sticks.

It is wonderful watching a person grow and change, get married, have a baby and be happy.

She is going to be a great mom.

Here is my "baby"

It was nice that someone else said that it is wrong that she is so grown up.

First Snow!!!

We finally got our first snow. It really seems like it is late this year.
Tabitha found sanctuary in Sai's pile of school stuff.

Sai had friends come over to practice for their try-out for the winterfest concert.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!

First of all I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!!!

Second, what happened to November...October just ended!! I can honestly say I can not account for most of the month of November, it just went by too fast to notice it. :)

And finally, my FAVORITE part of the holidays is getting to prepare food for people I love.

Below is really the one I enjoy the most.

BAKING PIES!!!!!!

I tried something new with my yams. Instead of just brown sugar and butter, I also added some peaches and cashews. They were VERY tasty.

My "little" bro and Sai getting ready to feast.

My mom and step-dad came to visit as well.

Of course, you can never have a holiday dinner without the traditional rolls.

Sai actually got her uncle to play her Polly pockets game.

:)

I LOVE spending time with family, playing games, and just talking.

This was definitely a good holiday.

Destiny?? or Decisions??

Here is a quote from an online article that I so agree with!!!! It is a conversation that Craig Harper had with a mother and a daughter. I feel it is so true!!!

She then shared that she didn't "feel it was her daughter's destiny to live the life she was living."
I told mum that I didn't believe in the (mainstream) concept of destiny.
I told her that I believe it is the refuge of the indecisive, the lazy and the deluded.
I told her that destiny was a convenience for people who didn't want to take responsibility for what they make (or don't make) of their life.

"I believe your life is a disaster largely because of the decisions you have and haven't made, and the things you have and haven't done."

It's about choices.
Simple.

"If you decide to do different, think different, react different, eat different, live different and communicate different.... you'll be different."

Better.
Leaner.
Lighter.
Healthier.
Excited.
Happy.
Fulfilled.
Content.

"But creating your best life has nothing to do with destiny... and everythig to do with decisions."

People sprinkle conversations with terms like destiny, fate, chance and luck, so they don't actually have to take responsiblity for their reality.
Historically, now or in the future.

If destiny is some pre-ordained series of events, circumstances, situations and experiences which are to 'happen to us' over the course of our lifetime, then we don't actually have to do anything....
because whatever will be, will be.
It's all beyond our control anyway.

Pathetic.

http://www.craigharper.com.au/2006/11/destiny-or-decisions.html