Getting nervous...

I don't "do" hospitals.

My only visits to date have been to see ill grandparents, beautiful new babies, or other ill family members, and then the only time I stayed myself was eighteen months ago when I had my child. And that time wasn't really as bad as other friends of mine have had. I walked out on my own two days later and was back to my usual routine, with just a little less sleep at night. And my mom was there to help.

I don't like being under the weather. I don't like having to have people help me do anything. I don't like not being in control. So, tomorrow isn't going to be fun. Luckily, my surgery isn't at a hospital (which sounds bad, I know), but instead at the Surgery Center, where I have heard that they are extremely nice and helpful. So, at least I don't have to do the hospital thing, but it's still outpatient surgery, and it still sucks. Tomorrow is the beginning of the week of heck for me. I have tried to write down all the things that need to be done tomorrow, and for the rest of the week, so that no matter how I feel, I will at least know what needs to get done.

But the best part of all, my mom is coming on Tuesday. Then I know that all will be well, because my mom will always take care of everything. Sometimes it's nice to have Mom come take care of you. Even when you don't usually like it .

Problem Solved

Recently, I have posted gross things about myself. More specifically, the fact that I have "cryptic tonsils." Well, Monday, this problem will be solved. I will have what I like to call "No-Mo" tonsils. I have surgery scheduled at 7am Monday morning... God awful early for surgery, sure hope the doc is a morning person!
Then, it's all good for me, because even though I will be in more pain that I care to think about, with no epidural in sight, I will at least have access to liquid pain medicines, and as much ice cream and popsicles as I can fit into 24 hours a day. I've even been warned that I may lose a few pounds... how is this not a WIN- WIN situation? Besides, the pain, I mean. But, hey, I had a child, I can do this too. But, childbirth didn't last 7 - 10 days. That's how long they keep saying that it will take me to feel better. Ugh.

So, this is also fair warning that my next post may be a little late in coming, and if it is next week, please go easy on me. I may be so taken care of by medicines that I may not know what I am really saying. Just a precaution... don't want too many people to be upset about not seeing a new post next week, if that's what happens! :) Pray for me, and the doctors taking care of me!

Tears in my Eyes

When I was pregnant, everyone told me that my emotions would change, and that I would cry at a drop of a hat. Well, I haven't really done that, but I do cry at things that are unexpected. For example, this song by Rascal Flatts about Sarah Beth.
I have their latest cd, and I guess I never got to that song on the cd, because they just started wearing it out on the radio, and every time I hear it, I cry. Most specifically, the minute they sing about "where his hair had been, softly she touches just skin."
EVERY SINGLE TIME, there are tears streaming down my face as the song plays on, like they don't know that they need to stop playing until I compose myself.
I don't know why these tears happen. But, I have thought of a few reasons it might be:

1. The boy is the kind of boy I want my Micheal to grow up to be, compassionate, kind, and unselfish.
2. I know that there are not kids like that out there anymore. I teach, and I see selfish kids every day that wouldn't shave their head for someone else. Considering they can't believe that wearing my hair crooked doesn't humiliate me.
3. There aren't adults out there that would be compassionate for that girl anymore. Compassion is not a trait that our society promotes anymore. What can we do about that?
4. Work is stressing me out, and I can't get out of this frustrating rut.

So, until then, I will be driving around, listening to my radio or cd, and streaming tears as I go.

I am Dedicated, if nothing else!

Even though our tiny little 1-A school doesn't have a football team, we do have a pretty good basketball team. One year, the girls are better than the boys, and another year, vice versa. I don't know what the tilt is this year, but the season hasn't really gotten underway, as the girls have only had one game, and the boys haven't even had one, yet. Nonetheless, our Homecoming is scheduled for tomorrow night, as our girls play one team, and our boys play a scrimmage against another team. Sounds like bad planning to me... but that's neither here nor there.

As in most high schools, the week leading up to Homecoming is Spirit week, with each day having a different theme. Monday was Overalls Day, because we're going to "Haul off the Lions" (or whatever their mascot is.) Tuesday was Wear All White Day, for "Keeping your Eyes on the Lions" (or something dumb like that.) Wednesday was Mismatched Day, and today was Twinkie Day (Match another person). Tomorrow is Spirit day, where we wear red and black to support the Pirates. I didn't know about Monday, so I didn't wear my overalls, even though I would have, since they are so comfortable. I wasn't about to look like a marshmellow and wear all white on Tuesday, so I skipped that day, too. So, I knew I had to do something good for Mismatch Day. I wore some pants and a shirt that had no business even being worn in the same week, let alone together on the same day. I also wore some funky socks with my tennis shoes, and some funky earrings. The other thing I did was wear my hair all jacked up in some lopsided ponytails on weird spots on my head. One kid didn't think they were weird enough, so he fixed them. Then he told me that I needed to wear it like that all the time.
After I was done laughing, he told me that if I wore my hair like that for a week, he would pass my Algebra class for the rest of the year. HOW COULD I RESIST?
This student should be a senior, but he is still a sophomore because he never gets enough credits a year to go on to the next grade level. He is completely capable of passing, but he is just LAZY and doesn't want to do enough work to pass. So, we made a deal. I wear my hair like a person without a mirror and vertigo for five school days, and he'll do all of his work and pass Algebra for the rest of the school year.
The catch?
If I don't hold up my end, in these five designated school days, he gets a free 100 as a test grade, which I don't give lightly.
If he doesn't hold up his end, all year long, then I get possession of his favorite hat, which I have never EVER seen out of his sight.
Hmmmm.... who gets the better deal here?
People around school are already looking at me, asking me if I forgot that yesterday was Mismatch day. I just keep saying, "No. I know. I'm just dedicated to doing ANYTHING it takes to help a student pass."
My hope is that once kids figure out what I'm doing, they'll know that I'm not the giant ogre that some of them think I am, and that they will work a little harder to earn the grades that I know they could get, as long as they are willing to put in a little effort.

God celebrates seasons, too!

Today while I was driving to town to run the errands that I had put off for two weeks, God showed me that He celebrates seasons, too! He made me feel like I was getting my own personal show of His emotions, and that Fall is his favorite season.
I know this because as I was driving down the road, God showered me with his version of confetti... beautifully different colored leaves!
So, share with God in His personal joy, and enjoy the change in the weather!