Snow Fell on Alabama

James Spann blogged it, therefore I kinda believed it. I was up late Saturday night, probably because I had been sick and had slept a lot, making me not tired or because of the possible snow, at any rate, I was up. I would frequently get up and look out the window, in hopes of snow, but by 12:30 a m, there was still no snow, so I fell asleep. Around 5 a m, I woke up, checked out the window, and there it was...snow!!! James Spann had not let me down! I crawled back in bed, tempted to wake Jared to tell him, and then deciding he would find out soon enough, and drifted back to sleep. At 7 a m, I wake to my cell phone ringing. Pam is exclaiming over the snow, so I peeked out the window again and to my amazement there was a lot of snow! It was falling in big flakes and it was absolutley beautiful! I love snow! Winter is my favorite season! Jared jumped out of bed and looked out another window, as I ran to every window in the house to see the view from different parts of the yard. We hurriedly got dressed and ready for church. It was the beginning of our gospel meeting and what a way start! We made it to church safely. Excitement filled the church. After church, young and old alike met outside (before the fellowship meal) and had a joyous time throwing snowballs and making snowmen and just running around with the snow falling! After lunch, we played some more until it was time for the singing and second service. What a memorable time we all had, with our sisters and brothers in Christ, playing in the snow, fellowshipping with one another, and worshipping God! Who could ask for more?
I must brag on my home congregation here for a minute. I could not have been prouder as I entered church Sunday morning and noticed that most everyone was there! I mean our crowd was not slim in the least! Now I know it was not possible for some to make it and even at that, there was hardly anyone missing! It said a lot to me.
Our gospel meeting was uplifting.
In other news, my dad had an EXCELLENT report from the doctor on Wednesday! God has blessed my dad tremendously through everything he has been through in the last month. He has beat the odds and recovered sooner than expected at best case! He will even start back to work on Monday! Please continue to keep him in your prayers because it will not be easy for him for many reasons, but I have faith that he will do fine! Please pray that everything he has to adjust to will be smooth for him! Thanks!
Enjoy the pictures from our snow day!

February was a BLUR!

I haven't posted in a month! February was a blur, hence the title! The biggest, scariest thing that happened this month was my dad getting very sick and having a MAJOR surgery. Something we thought was minor snowballed into my dad having two- thirds of his colon removed! We were stunned! He spent three days in ICU and one week in a regular room before coming home. We were there everyday, of course. Thankfully he has had no set backs and even got out of the hospital a couple of days earlier than expected. He has steadily gotten better and stronger. Joseph stays with him everyday until my mom gets home from work. He has been an AWESOME nurse! I thank God everyday because I know that without prayer, my daddy might not be here today! We are truly blessed! Thanks for all the prayers and please, keep 'em comin'!
Jared and I got sick yesterday. He has had a stomach bug and I have had a sinus infection, upper respiratory crud. I thought I may have the flu or strep. I noticed that one my glands were swollen and my body ached all over. I decided to go ahead and get medicine and catch it early because I definitely didn't want to risk making my dad sick. I see the same doctor my dad does. He told me to stay away from dad. I think he overly medicated me because I got a shot and three prescriptions! I think he was making sure we knocked out all the sickness in me to keep the risk of spreading it, especially to dad! Jared and I are about to go crazy, especially Jared. We made a trip to the gas station this evening and we felt free! Sadly, the gas station is only three minutes from the house. Needless to say, we are really looking forward to church tomorrow, more than usual! lol Which reminds me, everyone is welcomed to our gospel meeting that starts tomorrow and runs through Wednesday. M-W it starts at 7 pm. Sunday we'll have Bible class at 9:30, worship at 10:30, fellowship meal immediately following, 1:15 singing, and 2:00 will be our evening (only in the afternoon) service! Please join us!

Mrs. Sanders for President

This was my "make your day" moment for today and I needed it!
I had this student last year, we'll call him D for security purposes. I just love the way he talks and how he says things. His sense of humor is priceless! He visits me at lunch everyday and always has something interesting to say. Now D's mom works at the school as well, and she's a wonderful person, too! Well, today his mom gave me a note and said, "D said for me to give this to you. Now I don't know what it says, so I'm curious." I said I was excited to see what it was. So, I opened it up and D walks up smiling (cause this kid knows I find him very amusing). He said, "Let me read it to you. Now I wrote this back when all that election stuff with the president was going on." He starts reading it, and with some pausing (spelling is not his forte') he deciphers what he has written. When he finished, he folded back up, just so, hands it to me, and says, "I thought you might want to hang this up somewhere in your classroom." I laughed and told him that he had made my day! I told him that I was going to hang it up behind my desk so no one can get it. He smiled and started to walk away, turned to me, and added, "Oh, and by the way, feel free to type it up and correct all those spelling errors. It won't hurt my feelings!"
Now you may have a hard time reading it from the picture or you may notice his name at the top of the paper, so I will write it for "my people of the United States" to read, with all those spelling errors corrected, of course! :)



Mrs. Sanders should be president of the United States because she's honest and is very nice. And has some good handwriting. And spends her money carefully. She will do anything to keep children happy. And she loves the people of the United States. And lastly she is polite.

D, I am so blessed and touched by you!

This is getting framed and hung in my classroom with the spelling errors!

On a side note, I like how D said, "She will do anything to make children happy." How sad that our current president is doing anything to murder or aid in murdering children?

Teachers

A student gave me this little saying on a card for Christmas. I thought I would let it inspire whoever reads it.

GOD MADE TEACHERS
who teach by their deeds and by what they say.
Who help students learn truth,
to choose right from wrong,
to embrace wisdom,
and to grow in understanding,
By being for them a living lesson
from God's textbook of life.

Christmas Recap- The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

December 19- Happy Birthday, Jared! He turned 29! Jared's parents came into town to help us celebrate! Jared's parents, Andy and Jenny, and my family ( except Joseph, who had to work) all met us at The Fish Market. Jared received from his parents, Wii Fit and Wii Star Wars Legos game. Andy and Jenny got him a gift card to Chili's. Mama and Daddy gave him tickets to an Alabama game earlier in the fall, and Caleb gave him a Wii controller. I gave Jared The Dark Knight dvd, new jeans, Transformers Wii game, and some new shoes.

December 21- After worship, we met Andy and Jenny and Caleb and Jared's parents at Logan's for lunch. Then we came back to our house to have Christmas with Andy and Jenny because they were not going to be able to get together at Christmas. We had a great weekend with them all.

December 24- I spent all day watching Christmas movies and not doing much of anything else. It's nice to be able to do that once in a while, to truly relax! When Jared got home from work we opened our stockings. We had opened all of Christmas presents that Monday evening (as is our tradition- open when we feel like it way before Christmas)! That evening we all went to my parents house to eat and play games and eat some more. Before we all went home, as tradition, my daddy read us "The Night Before Christmas!"

December 25- We woke up and went back to my parents house to spend the day. We opened presents. Jared made apple pancakes and blueberry pancakes and bacon. Mama made a quiche, Pam made a sausage and hash brown casserole. We also ate leftovers from the night before, plus other goodies. My favorite treat was Redstone Candy! We opened it the night before and munched on it both days. You can only get this chocolate candy from PA during Christmas. We had not had it in a couple of years, so my mama ordered some and had it shipped. It was as good as I remembered eventhough my Grandad (who lives in PA) says it's not as good since the new owner and is twice the price. I still liked it though! We played Risk at Jared's request which took five hours! Then we had ham, macaroni and cheese, green beans, and chicken. We ate and played games and ate and ate and ate! Good times!

December 26- Mama, Pam, and I went to get some after Christmas deals. That evening we all went to mama's for Christmas with my dad's family. We decided to have soups and sandwiches. Everything was delicious! We had a really good time with everyone. We played Apples to Apples. I've got a funny on my 5 year old cousin, Chandler. The men were downstairs using a red laser light to mess with Chandler. They would take turns pointing it all around the room and he would scream and try to catch the red dot monster. My Uncle David shined it up the stairs at my great aunt. She was laughing and wiggling around and Chandler was yelling, "It's on you!" He ran into the den where we were playing the game and yelled for us to look. Someone asked him where was the monster and he loudly replied, "It's on the old lady!" We all burst into laughter, but he was serious about this monster and replied, "Well she knows she's old (turning to Aunt Enola) don't you!" We couldn't stop laughing. Even funnier, she can't hear well and didn't even hear it and if you know Chandler, you know he talks EXTREMELY loud!

December 27- Jared and I woke up and traveled to Brundidge to have Christmas with all of his family. When we got there, we went to Jared's Granny's and had Christmas with his mom's side of the family. We really enjoyed our time with them because we don't see them all that often. Next, we went back to Jared's parents where we opened our presents from them. Then we went to Jared's Aunt Ann and Uncle Robert's to have Christmas with his dad's side of the family. We took time to remember those who have passed from their family. Jared's dad has lost several brothers and family members on his side of the family including both of his parents. I especially think of sweet Hadley every year at this time of year because we lost her on Dec. 7 two years ago. She now has a brother named Cade who will be one in January and a brother on the way, Carter. This year, instead of doing dirty Santa, we decided to give to the Hadley May Foundation which benefits Children's Hospital right here in Birmingham, where Hadley spent most of her life. The Foundation gives gas cards, gift cards, toys, movies, and games to the part of the hospital where she spent all of her time. It goes to children and their families to aid in helping with their stay. Cancer is ugly and draining, no matter who you are! I know that when Had was in the hospital anything that occupied her for just a little while and made her feel better was worth anything! We had a wonderful visit with everyone!

December 30- January 2- Jared has been off work and we have had a relaxing time together. We spent Tuesday and Wednesday shopping. Wednesday evening we went to the church building with friends and ate and played games to ring in the new year. Thursday, Jared and I went to Pam and Joseph's (Xander was with them) to play games and relax. That evening, Sarah R. came over and we played more games and watched the "Bucket List." This is a must-see (warning- there is some language so not appropriate for children.) Friday, Jared and I finshed taking down the rest of our Christmas decorations and then went to the movies to see "Bedtime Stories." This is a very cute movie and kid friendly. It's rated PG. We came back home and cooked. Casey came over to watch Alabama in the Sugar Bowl. It was not good! Right before half-time they asked for cookies. They needed some comfort food! lol
I hope everyone has a very happy and prosperous new year!

Train Ride with Santa

On Sunday, December 14, 2008, we had the 6th grade and under Christmas party at the Calera Train Station. Immediately following worship services we all quickly changed clothes, ate a sack lunch, and drove to the Heart of Dixie Railroad Station. We looked around the gift shop and then boarded the train. We rode along while the conductor would walk up and down the aisles talking to everyone. Then Santa and Mrs. Claus paid a visit to our cart (we were on the caboose). They gave all the children a TY christmas bear beanie baby. Santa really liked Sydney and Pam! You'll have to ask them about that in person! lol I really enjoyed watching the excitement on all the children's faces! We had a wonderful time!

I really love this picture of Bayley! Pam and I had fun getting her all tickled!



















That evening after worship, we went to Josh and Katie's for soup and fellowship! We had a great time there as well!

Joseph's Graduation

On Saturday, December 13, 2008, we traveled to Montgomery to see Joseph graduate from Faulkner. He finished his classes this summer, but had to wait until December to walk. Grandma, Aunt Kendra, Dillion, and Erica all drove in to watch as well. We were all very proud! Something about "Pomp and Circumstance" stirs tears in me so I got choked up right away. The professors walked out first so by the time Joseph walked out I was really teared up! I was proud for him and his accomplishments! At the end, we all stood and sung the alam mater, which used to be something we did every week during chapel therefore not being that special; however, now that I am gone, I am very proud to sing it and my heart swells with that pride. I know I'm corny!
We ate at Jim 'N Nicks before the ceremony!











The Ceremony







After the ceremony