Wrigley Field

I absolutely love Wrigley Field and the Chicago Cubs.  This should come as no surprise to anyone that knows me.  I have been a fan since the young age of 7 and every year there is excitement as Spring Training comes to an end and Opening Day arrives.  This year Opening Day just happened to be on the first day of my Spring Break.  SCORE!!  So mom and I braved the rain and chilly temperatures and sat through 10 innings only to watch the Cubs lose.  It's alright, we are Cubs fans, we are used to it.  The outcome of the game didn't seem to matter much that day.  It was the first day of a new season.  Cubs fans all over the world are filled with hope as another season begins and people everywhere are wondering if this could be "The Year."  The boys in blue are off to a pretty good start and they are slowly beginning to find their rhythm.  Baseball season is my favorite time of year and if there is a game the radio or the TV will be tuned in.  If you need me between now and September, you know where I will be.  

I'm a mom!

Okay, well I'm not really a mom.  At least not in the way most people would associate the word mom.  I didn't have a child...I got a puppy!!  After having a puppy for almost a week I think it is pretty safe to assume that having a puppy is a lot like having a baby.  Here are a few things I have observed that are similar between having a baby and a puppy...

~They cry all night long for no apparent reason

~They are only truly content when you are holding them

~You have NO idea what they need when they are crying

~They love kisses and snuggling

~Your days of sleeping in are officially over

~They are a lot of work and a lot of responsibility

~Everyone thinks they know how to fix all of your puppy/baby problems

~They love you unconditionally

I love my new puppy but this first week has definitely been a challenge.  It shouldn't surprise anyone that I named him Wrigley!!  He is an apricot toy poodle and as of Monday he weighed an astounding 2.7 pounds.  He loves giving kisses and he loves playing with my socks.  He also loves crying every two hours a night.  Everyone tells me that he will  grow out of this "puppy" phase.  I can only hope!

Wrigley has recently been nicknamed Houdini.  This dog can get out of anything!  Seriously...anything.  The first few days we had him he was sleeping in a pack and play.  The first night he was home he figured out how to climb out of that.  My dear friend Georgia brought over a crate for him.  He discovered how to climb up the side and escape from the top.  We were using a gate to block off the kitchen.  I'm blow drying my hair this morning and I glance in the hallway to see Wrigley staring at me.  The little stinker is smart!  As of now I think my mom and I have solved the problem.  He is in a new crate and we have a baby gate up that he  can't possibly escape from.  I shouldn't say that!  Hopefully I will get some sleep tonight.

Snow Day!

I absolutely love snow days.  An unplanned day off of work where you can do whatever you want and still get paid.  Yes, snow days are one of the perks of being a teacher.  I remember wishing and praying for snow days as a kid.  I loved the mornings when my mom would come into my bedroom and tell me I could sleep longer because we didn't have school.  There was nothing like that feeling of rolling over and falling back to sleep knowing you are getting a "free day."

Yesterday there were threats of a winter storm coming through the area.  Most of the time when they actually predict a storm it never happens.  Even if the storm does roll through, the road crews are prepared for lots of snow.  We began talking about this said storm in the faculty workroom yesterday but we quickly stopped ourselves for fear that we would jinx our chances of a day off.  As teachers you never talk about snow days, because then they won't happen.  Don't ask me why, that is just how it works.  

So at 5:30 this morning my cell phone rang.  I was a little confused as to why my phone was ringing and who could possibly be calling.  I answered the phone in a very groggy morning voice and heard "It's A Snow Day!!"  My mom, who works nights at the hospital, had been on the computer and wanted to be the first to tell me that school was closed.  At first I didn't believe her but when I saw it on the TV with my own two eyes I reverted back to being 8 years old.  I crawled back into bed, rolled over, and fell back asleep.  I love snow days!!  

American Idol

I'm going to be honest here - I love American Idol!  I love the first few weeks when they show all of the auditions and I love when the show gets down to the top 12.  I will also admit that I own many a CD from American Idol winners.  I thinks Randy, Paula, and even Simon know what they are talking about.  They have been in the music business for many years and while they might not be the best communicators, they know music.  

Here is the part that I may never understand.  So you have all sorts of people show up to audition for this once in a lifetime experience.  There are many people with pretty amazing voices, there are scores of people with average voices, then there are the people that you can't help but feel embarrassed for.  Here is my question, "WHERE ARE THEIR FRIENDS??"  Seriously, do these people not have friends and/or family in their life that can speak truth to them and tell them that they can't sing to save their soul?  I know that I have plenty of friends in my life that would never allow me to make a fool out of myself like many of these people do.  Now, I'm sure that some of these people are just there to get on TV and make a fool out of themselves, but I know there are many people that actually think they can sing.  I feel bad for them and I want to be their friend to save them from years of embarrassment and ridicule.   

You Gotta Have Friends

I am the type of person that loves to be surrounded by people.  I love parties, I love being with my friends, I even love meeting new people.  I have had many experiences in my life and through those experiences I have met numerous people.  Even though I "know" many people there are very few people in my life that I would call my best friends.  Now, I know the term best friend makes me sound like I'm in 3rd grade, but they truly are the best friends I have.  They are there for me when things are great and we can laugh together and they are there when things seem to be falling apart around me with a shoulder to cry on.  

Jen has been one of my best friends for many years now.  She is an incredible woman and a wonderful friend.  We probably could not be more opposite in almost every single area of life! Jen likes talk radio, I like music.  Jen isn't the most organzied person, I'm borderline OCD.  I can always count on Jen to be around 10 minutes late and I'm always early.  Through our differences we have managed to maintain a friendship for close to 6 years.  I know that Jen is always going to shoot me straight and tell me what she is really thinking.  She doesn't sugar coat things and she tells me the hard things that I don't often want to hear.  She and I can laugh at ourselves for hours and we can be as silly as we want knowing that the other one isn't going to judge us.  I am extremely blessed to have Jen in my life and I can't imagine what life (and Children's Ministry) would be without her.  

There is always a test

I always find it so ironic that as soon as I say there is something in my life that I'm going to try to do better at, I am almost immediately tested in that area. I should have known that this time around would be no different.

It's only January 4th and I have already been struggling with the control issue in my life. I resolved at the beginning of the year that I was going to give up control of the things I have no control over anyway, and let God do what he has planned for my life. It's so easy to think you know what is best for your life and not listen to any ones advice, especially God's. Everyday I have had to remind myself at least once (usually 30 or 40 times) that I need to give up control and trust God and his plan for my life.

So I knew there would be a test. Would I be faithful and relinquish control or would I revert back to my old ways and grab the bull by the horns? Would I have enough faith in the God of the Universe or would I try to convince myself that I know what is best? It's a struggle, I'm not going to lie but I know whats at stake and I know the rewards will be worth it. So here we are only 4 days into the new year and there are circumstances that are already testing me. I have found that in those moments when I want to take over I can stop myself and say "You are not in control...let it go!" It's my prayer this year that I can get to a place where I don't even have to think that anymore, it just happens!

Fresh Starts

What is it about a new year that makes one feel like they can do anything they set their minds to? Maybe it's the New Year's Resolutions that everyone makes and hardly anyone keeps past February.  Maybe it's the turning of the calendar, a fresh year ahead of you just waiting to be filled in.  Whatever it is, there is something about a new year that is refreshing.  

I have always enjoyed saying good-bye to years past.  Don't get me wrong, many years have been filled with smiles and laughter and wonderful times.  But there have also been those years that have been filled with hurt and heartache, pain and disappointment.  I think it's good for one to look back on those years in the valleys and take note of what they learned.  Maybe that is why a new year is so exciting.  You can make note of lessons learned and vow to live a better life.  

As I was hanging out with some good friends tonight we began talking about the dreaded New Year's Resolutions.  We all made many of the same promises - eat better, exercise more, be more patient.  I really got to thinking about my life and what 2008 might bring.  I decided that in 2008 I was going to try my hardest to give up control of many circumstances in my life (along with eat better and exercise more!)  I know that God is in control and I should trust him for everything I need, but that is so much easier said than done.  So often I think I know what is best for my life and take matters into my own hands.  So as I am faced with a brand new year with brand new possibilities, I am resolving to let go of the control I think I have over my life and let God work in and through me.  

I am excited to see what 2008 will bring.  There are so many possibilities and so many opportunities waiting for us if we will just be brave enough to take a few chances.  Here is to a great year and a fresh start!