God's beauty - Laurel Falls

We are so lucky to live close to the Smoky Mountains.  This past Saturday, we decided to go up and hike.  We hiked Laurel Falls - which is  amoderate to easy hike.  It is 2.5 miles roundtrip and took about 2 hours to complete.  Laurel Falls is a popular hike, so there were lots of people on the trail.  We had so much fun.  We are looking to go back and do other trails.  The scenery was just beautiful. 

Change of Priorities

This summer has been so good for me.  I had a stressful school year with Eric traveling a lot,  Corbin's stomach problems, and new evaluation standards.  It really made me stop and think what or who is important.  I wrote my top 5 Priorities and printed it out.  I have one copy hanging in my bedroom, and I am going to carry one copy with me.  When I start to get stressed or overwhelmed, I am going to pull out my list and see if it's on there.  Should it be as big a deal as I am making it?  Here are my top priorities for 2012 - 2013:

1.  God - We go to a fabulous church and feel like it is home to us.  We are blessed to have a wonderful Pastor and church family.  But I need to concentrate on my personal relationship with God.  I need to read His Word more and ask for understanding.  I can't be content to just attend church on Sunday and Wednesday and listen.  I need to become actively involved. 

2.  Family - I love my family.  They mean everything to me.  I need to adjust my attitude and speak with more loving words.  With Eric traveling so much, it can be easy to take everything out on him.  I need to make sure my children see a positive, loving relationship between us.  I know this affects children so much.  I also need to say No to my children more.  Material things are just that.  They simple don't need everything.  I want to work on them volunteering more to help people in need.

3.  My job - I still love teaching and feel that God called me to be a teacher.  It is so stressful these days being a teacher.  I have to realize I need to give it 100% and then leave it at school. I also need to work on being more positive and not listening or getting caught up in negative talks.  Negative talks benefit no one.  As a teacher, I need to set a good example for my students.  My new principal told me that if you do something in the best interest of the students, and it doesn't work out, it's OK.  Admit your mistake and move on.  We are human, and we are going to make mistakes. I thought that was so supportive and kind.

4.  Myself /Health - I tend to, as other mothers, to put myself last on the list.  But if I am not taking care of myself, how can I take care of everyone else?  I need to take time to exercise, read, or whatever I need to do to relieve my stress.  I need to take grandparents or friends up on watching my kids.  They know with Eric traveling, I need time to myself.  I did not take their help this past year.

5.  Friends - I need to make my friends a priority.  I have some friends I have know since elementary school.  I have some new friends I have meet at church or work.  I need to take the initiative and ask them to lunch or schedule a girls' day.  I tend to wait around on others to plan everything.  I have one friend that has asked me several times to get together with her.  I never did.  I know she got tired of asking me.  Ha!  So I asked her, and we are going to lunch this coming Tuesday. 


I am so looking forward to this school year.  I am well rested and enthusiastic.  And I know that God doesn't give us more than we can handle.  I need to rely on Him more this coming school year.

Cooking up a storm

I wanted to document this for Eric - since he thinks I don't cook much.  It is very hard to feel like cooking during the school year.  But I actually semi - enjoy cooking in the summer.  It  has also been raining here for a couple of days, so we have not be running around as much.  So I was craving Mini Meatloaves.  It was so easy to make and both of my kids ate it.  I will make this again soon.

Then for dessert, a favorite of mine, the Easy Peach Cobbler.  I always make this if I need something quick.  Plus, you can eat it for breakfast right - it has fruit in it.  Both of my kids love fruit, so they will eat any kind of cobbler.

I have always wanted to make Lasagna.  So I tried a easy recipe I found on line.  It was okay, but not our favorite.

Last, I saw on a blog http://www.lifeinthegreenhouse.com/, a recipe for No-Bake Chewy Granola Bars.  They were super easy and delicious!  I may or may not have eated half of them myself.  I know my pictures are not great - cell phone quality.  But I do like to read back on my cooking successes! 

Parenting School Age Children

Well, nobody said parenting got easier the older your children were.  For me, as my children grow up, it gets harder and more difficult.  Both of my children were good sleepers and happy babies.  I was blessed to have 4 grandparents that helped whenever I asked.  So that made my life easy.  But now, I have a 10 year old boy and an 8 year old girl.  I lay awake at night just thinking of things they could get into.  I know I am crazy.  So far, both of them are pretty good kids.  No perfect, but good overall.


I worry about my son playing too much video games and what effect that will have on him.  I know it is summer, but the other night he stayed up all night with a friend playing video games.  Of course, when I woke up at 7 AM and found out that he was just going to bed, I lost it.  I did let him sleep for 3 hours and then woke his butt up.  Ha!  I made him do his chores and go to his sister's piano lesson.  C said his friend's parent didn't care as long as his friend was entertained and also it is summer.  So now big deal!  I pointed out, I am your parent not that kid's parent.  So now, I have to worry when he goes to this friend's house.  Ha!  What else is no big deal to these parents?


For my daughter, I worry about "mean" girls.  You hear so much bad things on the news.  Allie is a good girl and has lots of good friends.  I know their parents and feel they pretty much believe as we do.  But I also teach middle school, and I know sometimes there is no rhyme or reason why girls get mad at each other.   I also know that some parents want to be friends with their kids and will let them have parties that involve underage drinking or not appropriate chaperoning.  How crazy is that?  That is such a huge liability.  Kids are kids.  They are going to try and do things.  If you are not watching them, oh my, what they can get into.  But the parties happen every weekend it seems.


My husband says I need to pray more and put it in God's hands.  I know that is true.  God does answer prays and will take care of them.  By the way, my husband is sound asleep when I am up pacing and can't sleep. Ha!   I actually get less sleep now than when my children were babies.  Crazy!  My husband and I also want to have open communication with them.  We want them to know there is nothing they can't talk to us about.  There will be consequences for behavior.  But we don't want them to hide anything from us. 


I just know that I love my children more than anything, and I just want the best for them.  I know this generation faces more than my generation. With technology, there is so much more for them to get into without even thinking about the consequences.  That's why - even though they are 10 and 8, I still talk with them about things I see on TV.  I talk to them about boyfriends and girlfriends and what is appropriate at their age.  I talk to them about saying, "No" and blaming us for anything.  I told C and A, use us to get out of situations.  Say, "My mom would kill me."  or "My dad would kick me out and make me leave with my grandparents."


As for now, I will continue to pray that they make good decisions and continue to have an open communication with them.  I know the Lord is in control of all things.

Proud of my hubby!

Eric has been into bluegrass music for years now.  He has played with several successful bluegrass bands, as well.  But when you have children, the traveling is not so glamorous.  So he just plays in church now.  I know that was a huge sacrifice for him because he is really good. 

But he did build a mandolin, and I am so proud of him.  Someone from church gave him part of the wood that he used.  He played the mandolin in church a couple of Sundays ago, and the Pastor told everyone Eric made it.  It was a proud moment.  These pictures are pre-stain.  Apparently, it takes a while to get the "correct" color he wants it.  I can't wait to see the finished product.  Of course, his dream would be to retire early and build mandolins.  Which would be kinda neat!  He is always telling me I need a hobby like sewing, scrapbooking,etc.   He says a hobby would help my stress level.  Ha! 

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The dog days of summer

We took our little dog, Snickers on a walk. It was a very little walk. It is too hot right now to be outside and not be near water. Allie wanted me to take her picture with Snickers.















Snickers was thrilled! Ha! Now we are off the lake to have some fun!