Palm Sunday/April Fools Day

Today was a beautiful day.  We went to church for Palm Sunday.  R2 read the part of Jesus in the sermon.  After church, we grabbed a quick bite and headed over to GSU for a baseball game.  The weather was perfect. After watching several baseball games in the rain and cold, this was a treat.
On the way home, I pulled out my Kindle.  I had downloaded a couple of books in December.  I'm the type of reader that when I start, everything else must wait.  This particular download all started with:


When seeing this cover, R/R dubbed me the nickname "Tiger Mom". When R/R are pushing my buttons, they call me  Tiger Mom. I had also seen the interview with the author on the Today Show.
Here is the book:


It is by Amy Chua.  I started reading it this afternoon.  Amy's parents immigrated from China.  Amy was brought up in a strict Asian home.  She went to Harvard against her father's wishes and then on to Harvard Law School.  She met her Jewish husband, Jed, in school.  They have 2 daughters.
So far, I am enjoying the book.  Amy (I act like I know her) explains the thought process of rearing children in an Asian and Western way.  She explains that neither way is right or wrong.  I find Amy to be a humorous writer.  I will keep you posted.

This week is spring break and I'm so thankful.  I'm more than ready to get off of the hamster wheel for a few days.  This is the first spring break in two years that I've not had demands of graduate school breathing down my neck.  I'm looking forward to enjoying the outdoors and other fun activities.

I promised R1 that I would take him to see:


I really want to read it before I go to the movie, so I better get to it!  I don't know what I was thinking, but I didn't order the other two books.  After R1 read it, I ordered them, but they have not arrived yet.  I told him I could download them, but he wants the real deal.
Welcome to April.  Have a nice week.

Time to write in March

I've let the entire month of March slip by and it is almost over.  I get bogged down in blog writing because I always want to make it a theme.  Given my self diagnosed ADHD, it is difficult to settle down.  Therefore, I'll write random thoughts to summarize the month of March.

• R1 and R2 are in full swing of their sports.  Three to four nights a week, we are at the ball field and/or track.  I wouldn't trade it for anything.  However, eating at the Subway in Branchville was a low point after a baseball game.
• My neck/shoulder is doing much better.  I have a new appreciation for people with chronic pain.  
• I haven't seen R1 since he started The Hunger Games today.  I'm sure he'll finish it tonight.  I need to go ahead and order the 2nd and 3rd book.
• I love the beautiful flowers in my yard this time of the year.
• Easter is almost here!

First time all year

This was one of the few weekends that I did not do any school work over the weekend. It has been one of the most relaxing weekends I have had in a long time. We spent the day at a baseball tournament yesterday. Little did I realize the sky would have Mars, Venus, and Mercury aligned with the moon. R1 and Fay pointed out the planets It wasn't until I read online this morning that the last that happened was in 1987.

The Job Shadow

Today was job shadow day for my boys.  Each one set up their own assignment.  R1 called Coach B on the phone.  R2 stopped by Ms. G's room.  They didn't have to job shadow at my work, but they wanted to.  As someone pointed out, they picked teachers in the same discipline.  It was kind of strange all heading to the same place this morning.  They quickly found their spots.
Both enjoyed their day very much.  I enjoyed hearing their stories about the day.  Both boys asked for advice.  Coach B said:  "set goals and avoid distractions of idiots".  I loved this.  I had someone job shadow me today as well.  It was a busy day.  My advice to her was to:  "work hard and learn as much as you can".
Friday is almost here.  Have a nice weekend.  It is time to play ball!

What you can't cure, you endure

Famous words from my aunt Lena today: " what you can't cure, you endure". We had gathered to celebrate Miles birthday. I wasn't feeling good and considered not going. I pulled myself together and showed up. I figured the pain wasn't going to go away whether I was home or not. Hanging out on the front porch swing with my grandmother and her twin, gave me plenty of wisdom. They don't complain- they just tell it like it is. They are 91 years old but talk about how : " old people act". We compared doctor visits and prescriptions and their resolve seems so much stronger than mine. Aunt Lena said she didn't mind going to a nursing home but she would need a private room. She has a friend in the nursing home right now and the friends roommate annoys the heck out of her. When Aunt Lena have me the cure/endure quote I thought it was applicable on so many levels of my life right now. The afternoon came to a close and they drove off like Thelma and Louise. They said they are up to renew their licenses this year, so they are going to drive: "while they can". I am so blessed to have them in my life.

Happy Saturday

Good morning! I'm trying to blog from the IPad again- so please forgive the typos. With my neck/shoulder, I'm on steroids which I believe is to contributing to my inability to sleep. I find myself waking up between 4 and 5 each morning. Instead of fighting it, I have been retreating to the family room and settling into my favorite chair. I've always heard about people who get up early and enjoy the quiet. I'm finding it a nice time to read and listen to my Bible devotion. The IPad Bible app has an audio version, too. I scared Reeves the other morning when he heard A MAN talking in the family room. I assured in that it was the word of the Lord! We are heading to Georia Southern today for a baseball game. I'm looking forward to it. I missed so many games last year because I had graduate school work to do. I kept promising the boys that I would not miss this season. Rain looks iffy- but I'm not going to worry about it! Have a great weekend! Shell Blog a Lot

Misc. Catch Up Blog

Oh my, it has been too long.  Where does the time ago?  I have to confess, blogging is a little overwhelming.  Do I have a theme?  Do I write random thoughts?  I'm just going to go with it!


I've been a little stressed lately because I feel that I am juggling too many balls in the air.  But, aren't we all?
With a couple of "ah-ha" moments have  brought me back to reality.

• Mark, R1, and R2 make an incredible family.
• Hurting my neck or rotator cuff or whatever in the heck it is has given me plenty of time to reflect.  I'm healing.
• I've watch more television in the last 2 weeks than I have in the last 2 years.

Moneyball is a pretty good movie if you love baseball.

• Kim and Kourtney take NY is a   train wreck but I can't resist  . 

• I watched Up again and cried-- it should be a must see for every age.

• I'm sorry that Seal and Heidi have broken up. I listened to an interview with them on NPR a couple of years ago.  I really believed they were the real deal.

• My good friend the media specialist gave me an IPhone tutorial.  She showed me a Bible app and now I have Joyce Meyer daily devotions.  Youversion.com.  Media Specialist Friend always helps me keep things in perspective.  

• I've decided that I need to evaluate whether or not things will matter a month from now, a year from now, etc.
• Happy belated Valentines Day!

Shell-Blog-A-Lot