Wahoo! What a ride!
I haven't blogged since last September. Time flies when you're having fun, I suppose. Thankfully I don't have to rely on my memory to catch myself up on nearly a year's worth of happenings. Last year I started a "Gratitude Journal". I have long been a journal keeper, but have had a hard time commiting to consistently keeping one. Sometimes the day in and day out happenings of life can become a little dull and uninspiring. The idea of daily finding things to be grateful for has helped me keep an attitude of gratitude as I meet each day and encourages me to look on the brighter side of what life brings my way. So, in order to keep my blog journal up-to-date, I perused my daily journal and collected a few tidbits of the major events that have transpired since my last post.
Hold on to your hats....
September 2009
*I started graduate school through Texas A & M. I enrolled in 2 classes this fall.
*I wrote two 4 page papers
*Had a poem published in the devotional book, Learning to Soar" by Avery Willis
*Co-wrote a play for our school Troupe: The Dr. Bill Show-Fairytale Friends: Happily Ever After?
October 2009
*Jadan turns 12!
*Weldon & I celebrate 13 years of marriage!!
*I wrote two 10 pages papers
*Participated in Homecoming at ETBU
*Halloween festivities (Jadan was Mario, Esther was a life-size doll)
*Weldon installed a tile floor in our kitchen!!
November 2009
*Directed 30 students in the Troupe production of "Dr. Bill" plus created set and helped with costuming, props and sound.
*Presented a Veterans' Day program with all of my K-8 students plus helped President Jadan write a speech to introduce our veteran speaker, Judge Jim Ammerman.
*Experienced my first school lockdown with 25 children huddled in my room while a crazy man with a gun was loose in our neighborhood.
*Worked with our art teacher to have my 4th graders create painting that were displayed at the ETBU Children's Concert - "JAZZ" was the theme.
*Jadan presented the country of Kenya during World Bazzar. He was able to dress in an authentic costume thanks to his Papa Tapp's trip last spring.
*I wrote one 5 page paper and took an poorly written, thus difficult to take, mid-term.
December 2009
*Presented our annual Trinity Christmas Program at ETBU to an almost full house in Baker Auditorium (nearly 1,500 people).
*I wrote two 13 page papers, took another difficult exam. Received an A and a B. Not bad.
*Enjoyed a visit from my Mom's two sisters, my Mimi and her husband, my cousin and her son, and friends the Websters from Mississippi, as they gathered for Mom's graduation celebration.
*Was pleased to be asked to say the invocational prayer at Mom's graduation from ETBU. She was very surprised!
*Hosted our annual Christmas caroling party. We had 26 folks at our house for neighborhood singing and holiday feasting!
*CHRISTMAS!!
January 2010
*Weldon & I went on a much needed and long overdue getaway weekend. We stayed at a B&B near Canton and had a grand time bargain hunting!
(My Treasure - new Fiesta colors)
*I started my second semester. I decided to only take one course this spring. My first paper was 11 pages.*I spent most of the month of January feeling sick and puny. My throat hurt so bad I resorted to letting Weldon fix me a "hot toddy" with whiskey, lemon, & honey...which made me a little tipsy, but I slept REALLY well.
February 2010
*Weldon's birthday!
*Presented an all-school Grandparents' Day program full of shmaltzy songs.
*Planned to go with my folks and my kids to San Antonio to the Texas Music Educators conference, but had to cancel because of sickness and weather.
*Produced another 15 page paper.
*Enjoyed our SNOW DAYS!! We walked in our neighborhood wonderland, built a family of snow men, and enjoyed lots of hot chocolate!
(The four of us, with cat & dog)
March 2010
*I actually had left several days in March blank in my daily journal. This would indicate a disruption in my routine due to sickness, stress, busyness, or quite possibly, all of the above.
*Spring break was spent enjoying some R&R, visiting a daffodil garden, and we took a road trip to see Weldon's family in Houston.
*Co-wrote another play for the Troupe, "Sweetwater Swap", a wild-west version of the Prince and the Pauper.
*Wrote a record breaking 28 page paper...and made a 100 on it from a professor who said he doesn't give 100s!
April 2010
*Spent my days teaching my students how to sing and dance to the music of the 1950s! My favorite was teaching my 3rd and 4th graders how to partner dance! We had a ball!
*Painted props including: an 4 x 8 ft. long Chevy, an 4 x 8 ft. Strawberry Shake, a 6 x 4 ft. ice cream sundae, a "supersized" meal (burger, fries, and green glass coke bottle), an 8 x 6 ft. jukebox, and a 4x4 ft. diner sign (that lit up!!)
*Took pictures for Miller Photography at a Gone With the Wind private party in Jefferson. People from all over the country were there and most were in period costumes. We even got to meet one of the original cast members, Cammie King, who played "Bonnie Blue Butler" (she was also the voice of the doe Faline in Disney's Bambi)!
*Wrote another paper. This one was only 25 pages.
May 2010
*Esther's dance recital at the civic center. Weldon ran the sound/lights for the show. He was also the tech for two other recitals this spring.
*Produced and directed "Sweetwater Swap" with 40 Troupe players.
*Produced and directed Trinity's spring show "Fabulous Fifties!" for an audience of approximately 700 people!! This was my favorite show we've ever done!
*Jadan participated in Renaissance Fair as Galileo. He took Grandma & Papa Tapp with him on his end-of-the-year field trip to Medieval Times in Dallas.
*Jadan was also given a free ticket to see Star Wars in Concert at the Centurytel Arena in Shreveport. Having never been to an event of that scale, this experience, understandably, made a huge impression on him!
*I turned in my last 13 page assignment and made an A in my class. The next week, I started a May Mini Course and finished it with an A in only two short, intense, weeks. YAY!
*Esther got a new "DO" right before school let out. She's been begging to get it cut and we thought it was time for a more grown up cut, as she will be starting middle school this fall!!
June 2010
*Helped mom with yet another garage sale.
*Spent lots of time "reclaiming" my whirlwind ravaged home.
*Took a short overnight trip to the Metroplex to see my brother and take the kids to the Bass performance hall in downtown Ft. Worth to see "Little House on the Prairie: The Musical" featuring Melissa Gilbert, the TV series "Laura", who played as Ma. Another life-enhancing experience for my kiddos.
*While we were in Ft. Worth, Weldon made a quick trip to South Dakota for yet another Joe West reunion concert.
*Enrolled, like a glutton for punishment, in a Summer I class.
*Worked on long dormant sewing projects (I've got at least three quilts in the works!).
*Spent hours at the pool for swim lessons
*Esther enjoyed VBS and Jadan got his first taste of youth group at day camp.
*Celebrated another year of leading a very full and fulfilling life!
