Surprise!!! A birthday party!

Today is my dad's 70^th birthday. We (my sisters and I) decided to attempt to have a surprise birthday party for him. It took a lot of planning, and quite a bit of fibbing. . . Ok, flat out LYING, but we pulled it off. Robyn told Daddy we were having a surprise graduation party for me! It was his job to get me to my "surprise party" and although he didn't know, it was my job to get him his surprise party. It was really funny, we walked in, people yelled "Surprise!" and he was looking at me. When they all started singing Happy Birthday, he finally realized that it wasn't a graduation party. . . The look on his face was priceless! I think our friend Melissa started taking pictures, and I hope she got that look on his face. We were so afraid that some of his friends would spill it, I actually picked one by name I thought would mess it up, but no one did. I think we really surprised him, which is hard. He is good at surprising us, but I don't think we've ever gotten him the way we did today.

My dad is the greatest dad in the world. My sisters and I always knew that our middle sister was our Mom's favorite child. That seems a little disloyal to say, but it really is true. My aunt says that perhaps my middle sister just needed her more, but my older sister and I always felt that way. But, our dad, on the other hand, had almost a magical way – if you asked any of us who was his favorite, we all thought we were. That's an amazing thing. Our dad has pastured three churches, been an associate pastor at another, and started a mission. He is a fabulous pastor. The really funny thing is that he messes up his words and says the wrong thing to the wrong people all the time, but people aren't offended, and it's usually funny. But whenever someone is hurting or in need, He always knows just the right thing to say to people who are hurting, and knows when to say nothing, just to be there.

Today, I think he was very emotional. I think he got a little "verklempt" several times. We invited a lot of people, and the best ones came. It was a great party. Everyone just talked and laughed and ate and talked and laughed and ate. My dad did not have an easy life growing up – his dad was an alcoholic, and he just disappeared one day. By the time my grandfather resurfaced, he and my grandmother had gotten divorced, and he had remarried, and so my dad had stepbrothers younger than his own children. I don't know where he learned to be such a good dad – but he is. I'm glad we had the chance to do this for him.

School Day 1

Well, day one of the 2009-2010 school year is over. Overall, it was a pretty good day, actually not too bad at all. I have HUGE numbers of students, which is good for our school, but not so good for me personally. If we have too many, we'll gain a unit, like we did last year. Of course, it took until after Christmas to find and hire that new teacher so. . .

One of the teachers at my school wrote a fabulous blog post about testing at school. You can read it here: http://lizaanne42.wordpress.com/2009/08/22/a-rollercoaster-week/

She said it much better than I ever could and I wish that everybody who makes decisions about education could be forced to read her blog. I also think that everyone who makes education decisions should have to read the book "The Report Card" by Andrew Clements, but who listens to me????

Women of Faith

I just got home from Women of Faith. In case you don't know, WOF is a two-day women's conference, held in different cities every weekend. It is fabulous, wonderful, exciting, I can't think of enough words. There is something special about when women get together – and this conference has LOTS of women. We sing, we worship, we laugh, and of course, an arena full of women, we cry! This is my third year; I didn't go last year because it was too close to school starting. It is a great time of bonding with friends, having your spirit renewed and being reminded of the vast, endless love of God. There is a worship team, speakers and special guests. You can check out the website here: http://www.womenoffaith.com/

The speakers get to sit in a special part of the arena called "The Porch." I'd like to get to sit on the porch during one of these conferences. (BTW, I feel I need to explain this:
I have a list of "dying wishes" – the things I'd like to get to do if I were to find out I were dying. I guess it's technically a "bucket list" but I don't know how to go about accomplishing these things. Sitting on the porch is one, as well as having Barry Manilow sing "Sandi" instead of "Mandy." The third is to get to be the guitar tuner for Steven Curtis Chapman - but that's another story!)

Patsy Clairmont is always a hoot and has people nearly rolling in the aisles. This year she pulled as hard at my heart as she did my funny bone. Sheila Walsh is such a marvelous speaker that I tend to forget what a fabulous singer she is, and then she just blows me away. Marilyn Meberg always gets me unexpectedly and I can't always explain why. I love how she can be perfectly serious one second and laughing the next. We got to hear Lisa Whelchel, (yes, Blair from the TV show "The Facts of Life.") We met a new Porch Pal, Lisa Harper, who taught the Bible, as I've never heard before. Sandi Patty sang for us on Friday, and we had Mandisa sing for us, as well. I would LOVE to hear Sandi Patty and Mandisa sing together, as they both have voices that just fill up the whole place, but I don't know if we could stand it. I admit freely that I have NEVER watched an entire episode of American Idol, but honestly, what is wrong with people??? Why didn't Mandisa win? She has been gifted with a fabulous voice and boy, can she dance! I think God has much bigger plans for her than American Idol, which I know that some diehard fans of the show can't even imagine. This year Luci Swindoll wasn't at our conference, and that would be the only thing that made this year's conference perfect. I love her and I think we could seriously hang out sometime. . .

Our special guest was Steven Curtis Chapman who I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE. He is a gifted songwriter and performer; I mean the man has like 51 Dove Awards, for goodness sakes! I've seen him in concert multiple times and NEVER left wishing I hadn't gone. Last year, he had a concert in Lakeland and there was a website where you could request a song, and he actually sang some of them. He chose my song and sang my request. He had a song years ago called "With Hope." Part of the song goes "We can cry with hope, we can say goodbye with hope, 'cause we know our goodbye is not the end." When my mother died, I wanted that song. It comforted me and helped me grieve. If I thought I'd never get to see her again, I'd be devastated, but like he said - I know my goodbye to her was not the end." The Chapman family has had a rough year, but they made it through – with hope. He told us his wife said something like "We have been to the bottom, and found out that the foundation is solid." Oh, to have faith like that! I admit, I need to be reminded that the foundation of my faith is solid, that "on Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand." I always wonder when I see someone in a concert, if what we see is just a show or the real deal. He proved to us that he is the real deal and that the songs he writes and sings, he means. I don't think there was a dry eye in the house when he sang "Cinderella." What a testimony! What a gift! What a God!

(During concerts, he has to have his guitar(s) retuned between songs and I think that would be the coolest job ever - to be his guitar tuner during a concert. Of course, I don't know how to tune a guitar, but I'd learn. See, that's why it's on my list! )

I can't explain exactly what it is about Women of Faith I love so much. This year's theme was "A Grand New Day" which is perfect for this time in my life. It's a new school year; I've just ended one chapter of my life and am ready to go on to another. There is fabulous music, great speakers and most of all; constant reminding that God loves us! I love being with my friends from church, and spending uninterrupted time with them. I think we all get so busy that at home, we never have time to just focus on each other. We have time and opportunity to re connect with some of our dearest friends and meet some new ones. We had some serious conversations – and some not so serious ones. We laughed really hard, sang loudly, and then cried really hard. I don't know where else we can get that. It's good for your soul.

 

I admit it, I’m a hoarder. . .

I like to watch Animal Planet. I like those animal cop shows about people who work for the ASPCA and the Humane Society. I also LOVE Whale Wars, but that's a topic for another day. Sometimes on those animal cop shows they find people who they call "hoarders" people who end up with 20 or 30 (or MORE) cats or dogs in their house and in their yard. I can't imagine what 37 cats smell like but that's just me. I love my one cat, but he's enough for me. However, I have found some similarities between those people and myself. I am a hoarder . . . of books and other "stuff." I'm probably worse about books than anything else, but I'm not sure. I have been trying to get my house cleaned up all summer, since graduate school is all done. Last summer, while I was in London, my friend and her husband (who we affectionately call Hazel the Housekeeper) came and cleaned my house. They got rid of lots of stuff that I just hold onto for whatever reason. They did promise not to throw away any books, but she made my sisters promise not to buy me anymore "stuff" for Christmas or birthdays or anything. I've decided I have (and it pains me to say this) TOO MANY BOOKS!I don't know why I keep them. I know why I keep some, but honestly, as much as I love Frindle, do I really need 4 copies? Don't think so. . . I guess being a crazy book lady is not as bad as being known as the crazy cat lady, but still, I've got to do something about this. So here is my latest plan. I think I have enough books that I can weed my own stacks (see what I learned- I'm using Library-ese) and give a book to every student who comes to Orientation at my school next week. Doesn't that sound like a great plan?? I just have to decide where to start. . .

Mixed Feelings

I woke up today with very mixed feelings. I am very glad the work from my Master's degree is DONE! I'm excited that I won't have to spend hours and hours working online anymore. I loved graduation yesterday and felt all "verklempt" for a lot of the day. I was glad that my family got to be there, and that they seem to have had a good time. I was a little worried about them being bored. We had a lot of fun together, which we haven't had time for in quite a while. It was lovely to see all my friends and spend time with them. We ate some really good food and had a really good time, but part is me is still a little sad.

I'm sad because I know that I will not have time with some of my new friends like we've had for the last 2 ½ years ever again. I'm especially afraid that I'll lose contact with some people. I don't want to, but I'm just afraid that life will get in the way. It's going to take lots of effort to keep in touch.

I'm also a LOT sad that after all of our training and all the things we've learned; out of the 30 Project LEADers, only five (I think) have media specialist jobs. I know that I had classes with fabulous media specialists to be. I think there are many good things waiting to come from us. I'm afraid I'm going to forget all the things I've learned. If I think about the fact that I'm not starting the year as a media specialist too much I get really angry, so it's best not to dwell on it. I have loved my job, although I didn't enjoy last year at all, but I was just really ready for something different. I know that things will all work out for the best, but I really wanted a job.

I'm also afraid and a little apprehensive. Our professors, Dr. D and Dr. E are both so accomplished and are expecting great things from us. What if I can't do anything impressive? Maybe they made a mistake when they chose me and I don't have it in me to be a leader and never get a job as a media specialist? What if I do get a job and end up being a stinky media specialist? What if, what if, what if???

 

 

Go NOLES! (Yes, I am a Seminole!)

As of today, I am officially an alumna (which Wikipedia defines as an "a female graduate or former student of a school, college, or university") of Florida State University. Many moons ago, I graduated from University of South Florida, but to be perfectly honest, I don't remember much of the ceremony. I do remember that the guy who sang the National Anthem started out WAY too high, and had to drop down an octave when he got to the "rocket's red glare" part. That's about all I remember. My tassel was light blue . . . and I think I still have my cap and gown in my mom's cedar chest, which now belongs to my oldest sister. We got four tickets – so Mom, Dad, Patti and Robyn were there. Josh, my nephew was there too because he was only an infant, and didn't take up a seat. But today's was much different. I can't really explain why, so let me just ramble on a bit.

I missed my mom. I kept thinking she would have been proud of me. I know my dad was, but I really missed my mom. My sisters were both there, and my niece. I got a really nice surprise Friday night because my friends the Smiths drove up for the ceremony. They drove for 5 hours up and five hours back for a 2 ½-hour ceremony. Mrs. Smith and I worked together for 14 years – and she was the first person who actually knew that I was selected as a Project LEAD fellow. I actually used her cell phone to call my sisters, and I went running down the hallway screaming, to tell her. The next night, she and her husband, Mr. Al, took me to dinner, and Mr. Al brought me a present – a Department 56 library, and my first piece of FSU paraphernalia. He graduated from the FSU College of Law a long time ago, and their son Ross, has two degrees from FSU, so he was QUITE excited about me becoming a Seminole. He warned me that being a Seminole is something you never get over! You know how there are some people who are not related by blood, but are family? That's exactly what Mrs. Smith and Mr. Al are to me: family by choice!

I think that this degree means more than my BS. First, I had to work a LOT harder for this one. I had NO idea when I first heard Dr D and Dr E tell us about Project LEAD, how hard it would be. The good has far outweighed the bad, but this may be the hardest thing I've ever done in my entire life.

One of the best things about today's ceremony was getting to share it with some people who have come to mean a lot to me. If you had told me in December 2006 that I would be so close with some people who I didn't even know, I would have laughed so hard, I probably would have wet myself. But that is exactly what has happened. I have made some really good friends that I can imagine being friends with forever. I have always wondered about some friends of the Smith's - they have friends they went to school with at FSU who they still see every year, talk to regularly. . I just couldn't imagine. But I can now. I cannot imagine never speaking to or seeing Robyn, Connie, Wendy or Stacy again. I can't imagine not talking to (or at least chatting online with) Andrea or Katherine. I can't imagine not checking on Vicki or Bobby facebook page. There are many people I will have to stay in contact with.

My niece has decided she wants to be a Seminole. Today, during the ceremony, the President of FSU was talking about connections, how so many Seminoles are connected to other Seminoles. I wonder if we're starting our own family tradition. My sister wants to explore the music therapy program at FSU, maybe she can be converted as well.

So tonight as I go to bed, I'm different. I am connected to something much larger and much older than I am. At my church, I am very much outnumbered and surrounded by those dreaded Gator fans. I have never gotten involved in the whole FSU-UF feud thing, I just couldn't see it. Surprisingly, even to me, I find that changing. My Bachelor's degree is from USF, and I'm very proud of that degree, but I have this much bigger feeling inside of me now. I don't know where these feelings came from – but I have them. I was thinking about my friend Dusty, who graduated from UF, and I understand now more why he has a Gator tag on his car and Gator "stuff" in his house. I get it. FSU has been very good to me and so, with pride I say "GO NOLES!"

A Saturday in Pensacola, and the things I learned.

Katherine and I spend Saturday in Pensacola, just messing around. We started at the Naval Aviation Museum, then took a specially guided tour of Fort Barrancas, then explored downtown Pensacola, followed by dinner at McGuires. Then, we drove down to the beach and looked around. During the whole day, I discovered some interesting things. I'll put them in a list.

1. I could spend DAYS poking around at the Naval Aviation Museum.

2. IMAX movies are awesome. We watched an IMAX movie about helicopters, which was seriously cool.

3. I'm not made to be an astronaut. Katherine took my picture as an astronaut and it's not attractive.

4. I ask way too many questions. We went to Fort Barrancas just in time for the guided tour. We were the only people on the tour and the guide was Katherine's fiancé, Scott. We got a personalized tour and I got to ask all the questions I wanted, which is a huge deal for me, because I want to know EVERYTHING.

5. There are neat painted pelicans all over Pensacola. In Lakeland, near where I live, there are painted swans all over town. When I was in North Carolina earlier in the month, I saw painted bears in Cherokee. In Pensacola, it is pelicans. Here's the weird thing – we saw an Army pelican, a Marine pelican, and a Coast Guard Pelican – but we never found a Navy pelican – in a Navy town.

6. McGuires is a fabulous place for eat, although the dollars hanging from the ceiling kind of creep me out. We had boxtys as an appetizer – mashed potatoes rolled in breadcrumbs and deep-fried – they are to die for! We had Senate bean soup, which is just 18 cents a bowl, unless that's all you get, and then it's $18.00 a bowl. I had pork chops that nearly melted in my mouth!

7. Pensacola Beach is gorgeous, and has some really odd houses. We saw a wedding on the beach, and then we just looked at houses. There are some weird ones.

So I learned these neat things about Pensacola. There are pictures. . .