Nascar surprise

Mike and I go to the Coca Cola 600 every year. We go on a bus through his job. While working at school, I have met Samuel (on the left) who knows everything there is to know about Nascar. His brother Matthew, is at school this year too and I am getting to know him! Anyway, we invited their whole family to go to the race with us this year. We have all kept it a secret from the boys until today at 5pm. This week was state testing and we knew Samuel would not be able to concentrate if he knew. So, today both families (accident/NOT) happened to have dinner at McDonald's. Halfway through eating, we pulled out color copies of six tickets.........six! that is way to many for Mike and me so we better take the boys and their parents!!!! You can tell by the pics we made sure the boys were prepared...........they both got shirts, hats, and even coloring books!! They were both excited but Samuel was beside himself. He didn't even finish his dinner!! He was SSSOOOOO happy; he said it has been his dream. The moment he realized that we were ALL going was absolutely PRICELESS!!!!

Flat Stanley

I have a friend, Nick, in my Awana class at church. Nick goes to Milton Elementary where they have been reading about Flat Stanley. Nick asked me to take Flat Stanley to Altizer Elementary where I work and let him visit. Of course, I took pictures to document Flat Stanley's day! I showed Flat Stanley our recycling bin, he found books about himself in our library, he got a phone call at the secretary's desk, and he even got weighed at Weight Watchers after school! He had a nice day and was very tired when he got home.

In flight

When asked to provide a picture of something in flight, I knew what picture I would use. It is a bald eagle! We saw quite a few of them last summer on our tip in Alaska and this particular eagle was soaring around looking for food. Yep, babies in the nest! So, I'm posting an extra picture of the eagle sitting in the nest. The picture was taken through a telescope. It was all from Icy Strait Point and the town of Hoonah, Alaska. We saw our first bears here and were actually a little to close for comfort without protection around us. The way of life there in the winter is like something from way to far back for me to remember. Food ( all the beef) has to be flown or floated in and is very expensive for the residents.

Round Robin Challenge: By the Numbers

My entry for this Round Robin Challenge is the numbers I see each day at work. I work in an elementary school and enjoy this picture in our pre school and kindergarten hallway.

That hall at school is always cheerful and pretty!
The other picture is from Alaska. It is a sign with numbers telling the mileage from the Alaska pipeline. Maybe the reason we have so many pictures of this pipeline is because Mike works in the oil industry??

Happy #26

This is what happens when an adult child still has a key to your house (for emergencies only, of course). Actually, it made my entire week when I came home from work yesterday to this surprise! The poster was on the wall in the living room and I saw it as soon as I went up the stairs. The dining room table was all decorated and the gift basket is from wonderful grocery stores in Cincinnati. Our bedroom was decorated with streamers all over the ceiling and red balloons that covered the bed. AAAAAHHHHHHH Isn't that sweet?? We loved the surprise and the thoughtfulness and time spent in doing it. Jenny and John live about 40 minutes away so they even had to drive a ways to get here.

Thanks a bunch, you two!

First attempt

It is time once again. I believe it is Jan's fault. Now I feel the need to participate in these photo challenges. Why? I ask myself this; because it is yet another challenge. Here is my first attempt.
The picture above is what is left of the house where my grandmother was raised and lived until she got married and left for America. The house is in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. Today, the land is till owned by relatives of mine. The old house is surrounded by apple orchards as far as the eye can see and the largest greenhouses I have ever seen. I touched the walls of the house. I cried when I was there. It was an emotional tie to my past. My guess is that the house is at least 150 years old.

Esther

For two weeks now, I've been involved in a new Beth Moore Bible study. As you can tell by the title, it is on the book of Esther. I've joined my friend Ruth at her church, Altizer Baptist for this. I am totally enjoying and learning. One of the best parts for me is that I am learning from quite a few new women! So far, I have a whole new idea of reasons not to be a queen: way too many pressures there for me. And the idea of being in a harem to be picked from, no way!
I look forward to other new insights. What am I the most surprised about? Mike!! That's right, Mike has joined us in this study. Ruth's husband is the pastor and he wanted male support and invited Mike so he goes with me. I am very proud that Mike is open minded about this and willing to learn from a female who has very female views. I guess since Mike has lived with all females for 24 1/2 years now, he's had no choice. This is another way for the two of us to grow closer to God together.