Two Birds, One Stone

I realized this weekend that time is quickly slipping away from my summer and I need to get some items from my Summer Bucket List crossed off already! 

I've been thinking a lot lately about my friends and how lucky I am to have each and every one of them.  So, I decided to write a few letters and I included a heartfelt surprise in each one! 

I decided to send letters to my friends Katy and Roxy.  They both had been eyeing a piece of the jewelry that I sell so I packaged one up for each of them with the letter.   It's only a small token of my friendship, but I think it's important that we tell the people we love and appreciate that we do love and appreciate them more often!

Summer Bucket List

1.Trip to the beach
2. Read a book, or two, or three
3. Start a new tradition at home
4. Give a heartfelt surprise to someone
5. Give a good report to a manager about an employee
6. Extreme Makeover: Kindergarten Closet Edition
7. Begin writing a children's book
8. Clean out all 4 3 closets (one down, three to go!)
9. Try Yoga again (my friend Kristy invited me to go...I have been a slacker, but am still hoping to go soon!)
10. Write a letter to the editor
11. Write a letter to a friend
12. Go on a picnic
13. Start a blog
14. Learn about Guided Math Groups (meeting twice this week to talk about it)
15. Go to a concert
16. Finally beat my husband at a game of Clue: The Office edition
17. Complete Family Trust Grant (changed from Foundation to Family trust b/c I missed the deadline)
18. Complete and mail in STAR Teacher Application

What I'm Loving Wednesday

What I'm loving on this HOT HOT Wednesday, the 13th of July.........

I'm loving that the sun is shining.  No matter how hot it gets, I am thankful for the daylight and warmth.

I'm loving the support that my town is showing for a fallen soldier and fellow graduate of Fort Mill High.  Members of my town lined the street today for his homecoming in preparation of the funeral service tomorrow. I'm loving that I know God will wrap His gracious arms around TJ's family in their time of loss here on Earth.  I'm loving  that I am allowed to live and walk free because of what soldiers like TJ are fighting for.

This photo is linked to the local newspaper story. 

May God bless TJ and his family. 

I'm loving that my husband got a job offer from The Boy Scouts of America a few weeks ago.  He'll be a District Executive and the only professional scouter in our county.  He is super excited to start with them next week!  I am excited too because the hours will be much more flexible.

I'm loving that I get to have dinner with a friend tonight!  Lisa and I haven't dined in a while, but we are the type that can pick back up wherever we left off....and we always share lots of laughs.  I'm loving that I have sweet friends that I can truly be myself around.  And, we are going to the best place ever to eat........



THE WHITE HORSE



I'm loving that I'm seeing an afternoon thunderstorm roll in!  Maybe it will cool things off.......

I'm loving my Wednesday edition of the USA Today, of course!  If you know me, you know I love me some Craig Wilson and The Final Word.  Today he charms his readers with a tale of grilling out.  I literally laughed out loud reading it to myself, picturing my sweet husband who used to let hot dogs fall through the grates or drop burgers on the ground while trying to transfer them to a plate.  While Mr. Lochel's grilling skills have vastly improved since we said "I do" over 4 year ago, Craig Wilson admits to not even owning a grill and rejoicing that everyone lived after eating his food.

I'm loving that ETS is sending me on a little road trip next week.  Check back to find out what exactly I get to do! 

What are you loving today?

A Weekend Getaway

Toes in the water? Toes in the sand?  YES, please! 

And, of course, the teacher in me couldn't help but collect a bag of free manipulatives to take back to the classroom- seashells!  I am always on the lookout for that kind of stuff; free, that is!  I love getting shells, and maps, and postcards of any kind to share with my children that don't ever have the chance to travel.  I take for granted the many opportunities I've had to see the beach.  I am always surprised at the number of children in my class each year that have never been.

The minute my hubby left work on Friday, we hit the road for a weekend trip to the beach!  Our dear friend, and my sorority sister, Nicole, got married! 

Her destination wedding at the beach worked out perfectly for us too because I had been holding onto a free 2 night stay at Springmaid that I won back in September.

Cheryl, Roxy, Nicole, Lynn, Crystal, Katy, and me!

It was a great weekend with friends, one that we promised to repeat!

Summer Bucket List: I've got quite a ways to go!!
1. Trip to the beach
2. Read a book, or two, or three
3. Start a new tradition at home
4. Give a heartfelt surprise to someone
5. Give a good report to a manager about an employee
6. Extreme Makeover: Kindergarten Closet Edition
7. Begin writing a children's book
8. Clean out all 4 closets
9. Try Yoga again
10. Write a letter to the editor
11. Write a letter to a friend
12. Go on a picnic
13. Start a blog
14. Learn about Guided Math Groups
15. Go to a concert
16. Finally beat my husband at a game of Clue: The Office edition

Teacher Talk vs Mommy Talk

So it is actually my real first day of "Summer Break" today and I'm going to start it off right with a cookout party with my best girlfriends.  But my, oh my!  When I think back over the years, oh how our parties have changed!

After graduating college, our lives all took dramatic turns.  Jobs, new homes, husbands, and babies all started keeping us a little busier than we had ever been before.  But, because we have such an amazing bond, we vowed to make time for each other.  Through all the ups and downs; through all the jobs and boys and little ones, we promised to stay in touch.  And that, we do! 

We attempt for a monthly thing, but life seems to have a way of bringing us together more or less every two or three months.  But that's ok, because when we do get back together, it's like we've never been apart. 

However, our conversations that used to revolve around the funniest of sorority memories, now revolve around "Teacher Talk" and "Mommy Talk".  And yes, non-members of both of these groups lovingly limit the time spent on each.

Before all the babies graced us with their presence in this world, the majority of our circle of friends were, and still are, teachers.  Sweet Megan and sweet Roxanne would patiently listen and laugh at all of our stories about our students and boogers and the funny things they did and said in kindergarten that day.  But, after years of this, I believe their patience with our "Teacher Talk" began to wear thin.

When you love something- when it is an undeniable part of you- talking about it is just natural!  I don't even think we realize that we're doing it because it's just who we are.  As it should happen, those same two sweet friends I mentioned before were the first two to have children.  So began and so continues the "Mommy Talk" as well.

Tonight was no different.  Our conversations drifted from old memories to how our school years ended to teething and diaper rash.  As the Cheerios shook in the the clear, plastic container, I looked around the room and was ultimately thankful.  Thankful for friends.  Thankful for the love. 

Thankful for conversation- of any kind.