I got a new rocking chair for outside. As you can see from the not-so-pretty picture, I can sit indian-style in it (is that politically incorrect to call it that?). I LOVE IT. I just sat and rocked while Vic grilled us some chicken. First time in YEARS that I've sat outside and not imbibed anything other than some good ol' fashioned iced tea!

Have I mentioned that we are in the process of changing our eating habits? Probably not, but we are. More grilled, less butter, you know the drill. I'm feeling really motivated this time--like I ever do this--but anyway. I'm ready for a change. I'm not trying to be smaller as most people who make food changes, but I am trying to be healthier and if I happen to shrink, I'll live. I think I'm also going to bite the bullet and start swimming at the only indoor pool in town. I went and checked it out and it's a good size and not very busy. I've also been thinking we'll start walking some too--since my feet don't hurt anymore (because I had them lazered last summer!) and the same place that has the pool as an indoor track. Wouldn't want to get any sun, ya know!

Thirty-one. 31. It's really only a fun number if it's tied to Baskin Robbins. But anyway, it was a good lazy day--which is just what I needed! We slept late, grabbed lunch at Sonic, got ready, and headed to Amarillo. We had to get Vic's glasses adjusted, and I found some cute Earth shoes at Dillards that got to come home with me:


We went to look at headboards--we got new mattresses so now we have a spare set of (old) king mattresses. We are looking for an inexpensive headboard/frame for it. Didn't find much we liked that was not too expensive.

Then we went to Pei Wei for dinner. We were going to eat Japanese food, but it was SO busy that I didn't wanta wait. So we are going to go back on Monday night and eat there and continue looking for a bed. After some mongolian chicken, we went to Biti Pies and I had the best mini coconut cream pie! Here's a pic of it 1/2 eaten:

I also got a german chocolate cake to go too! Vic got a cherry pie and a chocolate one to go!

So now we are home and I'm looking for something to wear to church that would accentuate my new shoes! Thanks for all the birthday wishes it was a good day!

SO last Friday as I was in the truck driving to Denton, a shock of panic hit me as I remembered that I needed to take care of the ticket that I had gotten by June 7th. SO I called Vic, who at that minute was sitting in the Detroit airport. I reminded him about the ticket and told him that I got it in Panhandle, TX and needed him to call them and ask what I should do. Because, you see, the ticket is in my car which is at the Amarillo Airport and Vic has the keys. So he called. And then called me back and said they had no record of me. So then I told him to try White Deer, TX because maybe that's where I was...so we got off the phone again. He called me back and said I needed to call them. I did. They told me they would "make a note" that I had called and that I could mail it or bring in the $ this week.

So on Saturday I went up to the credit union in Denton (which is still where I bank) and got a money order. This morning I got up and took the U-haul trailer and turned it in (an adventure in and of itself...which included a puppy almost pulling my pants down) and headed to White Deer. I called the number and asked where they were located. She said "come to the only blinkin' light on the main road and turn left and it will be on the left hand side, you can't miss it." She was right:



I went into this lovely establishment and she asks my name. She pulls out an envelope with a STICKY NOTE on it that said "called in & will pay later." I give her my money order and she explains that in 30 days I need to write a letter that promises that I didn't get any more tickets from June 10th-July 10th and have it notarized. Then it won't go on my record. That's their version of deferred adjudication.

Living out here in the sticks is pretty funny. I can't imagine that Dallas Co. would ever request that someone write a letter that "promises" they didn't get anymore tickets...but whatever. They'll get their letter and I'll always know that I got to visit City Hall in White Deer, TX.

SO much has happened in the last week!

First, last Friday my principal and I discussed me staying. She said she would move me into special ed., which is where my heart is. We haven't sold the house and I don't have a job in DFW...and so I came home and didn't think much about it at first, because we had to go get Vic's mom at the airport. But, I called my dad and he said he thought we should stay...he said that a year from now the job and housing market will be much more stable and that having a job here is better than not having a job there.

So we prayed that God would help us make the RIGHT swift and easy decision. SO then, Saturday, we had lunch w/ the associate pastor at our church who is our age and we were talking to him about it and he was like "well, I'm a little biased, but I'll pray for yall" and I said "while you are at it, pray for us because we decided that we are going to start the adoption process" and he was SO EXCITED and was like "I'll write you a letter of recommendation...and we have people in the church that can help you...and there's this and that grant to help..." on and on and on...and then prayed with/for us right there in the sandwich place for "our baby" and right then I felt like that was God's way of telling us to stay here and when we got home Vic said that he felt the same way....

So, we have decided to stay in Pampa another year...which seems crazy....but DFW isn't going anywhere. And (I know this sounds crazy too!) I have felt all along that God brought us here for a baby...I thought it was because of the fertility Dr. at TTU that has been so great to work with...but maybe it's just to find our child that's being conceived by someone else!

Anyway, I'm sad to be gone from my family and friends even longer...but I am so excited about this whole adoption thing. I feel good about all the decisions. I'm also really relieved to be putting some eggs in another basket, so to speak, because I don't think just continuing with the fertility stuff was smart or sane for me/us. I love the idea of God bringing us a baby that needs a home...I would be so honored to be his/her mom.

One of my precious kids, Drew, gave me poodle shoes today! How fabulous!

We had a lazy Memorial Day weekend. I was off Fri & Mon...Fri for an unused snow day. Kim came and we did a whole lotta nothin. We did try some new recipes--Cheezy Chicken Brunch Casserole and a cream cheese parmesan dip. Both were tasty. Vic got our little fountain working. It was here when we moved it, but it didn't work. It didn't take him long at all to get it up and running because all that was wrong was that it's breaker was thrown! We sat outside most of the weekend and enjoyed some of Pampa's finest scenery...our fountain by the shed...

Why haven’t I blogged? No reason. There have been several things that I thought “hey, I should blog that…” But I haven’t.

There are 13 days of school left and I’m SO ready for it to be over! However, I am also a wee bit anxious about next year. I have had ONE interview that I got a letter from them that they had decided to hire from within. I’ve applied at 40-50 districts. I mean, really!? There isn’t someone that wants a special ed teacher w/ 4 years experience and an almost M.Ed.? We can’t really pick a place to move to until I have a job, so for now, we are stuck. Not that we’ve had tons of offers on our house…we’ve shown it quite a bit, but no offers. I keep telling myself that it will all happen in God’s time…but I don’t seem to be able to remember that when I’m waking up in the middle of the night thinking things like “what if my phone number is wrong on my resume?!” or “maybe my computer (at work) is blocked from sending these applications and I need to resend them from home…” SO, if you happen to know any random principals/administrators anywhere in the DFW area, you should email me and I’ll give you my resume and you can pass it along :)!

SO tonight I was scrounging for supper. There is nothing in the house and the only grocery store here is closed for Jesus, which is nice, but still...it's Easter and I'm not prepared. So I just started throwing what I had together...and I LOVED it--and surprisingly, Vic did too! So, not that I think any of you will use this recipe, this is where I'm going to store it!

1 lb lean ground beef (I prefer Laura's lean ground beef, 4% fat)
1 can refried beans (I use vegetarian ones!)
1 can of Rotel w/ juice
1 can of corn (drained)
about 1-2 cups of frozen mixed veggies: onion, bell pepper, celery, parsley (it comes already mixed)
3-4 garlic cloves, crushed
couple of shakes of red pepper flakes
5 flour tortillas (I used whole wheat)
2 cups of colby jack cheese

Brown the meat, drain any liquid, add garlic, red pepper flakes, Rotel, corn, and frozen veggies-stir together. In 9x13 put 2 tortillas, tear up 1/2 of another and fill in gaps. Scoop 1/2 of beans out of the can and spread them onto the tortillas. Cover w/ half of meat/veggie mixture. Cover w/ 1/2 of cheese. Repeat. Cook for 20 minutes on 350.

So a parent of a student in my room found two baby squirrels after a neighbor's tree was cut down. She saved them. She bottle fed them every four hours and now they've moved on to seeds and apples. They are about 6 or so weeks old now and she's had them over a month. I love them. I held one and all my kids pet them. SO cute!




Speaking of cute...He thinks he's smaller than he is. He tries to lay on things that he just doesn't fit on, but today he propped himself up on the lysol can. I love him too.





AND speaking of propping up, this is a portrait of Nancy and I drawn my one of my students today. Are my boobs really that saggy? And for the record, she's never seen me in a dress.

And Vic is 34 today. Happy Birfday! That sounds old. I remember my mom being 34. It's a good thing he's a cradle robber and that I'm still young....

I made my coworker/friend, Jill, a banana pudding for her birthday tomorrow. It's cute, see: