Suggestion Box

I need your suggestions for a few things:

1. I want a new coffee pot. I want one that will grind the beans and brew all in one step. I would also like it to have an espresso maker, but it's not necessary.

2. I need a new book to read. I've ran out of Karen Kingsbury. I need lighthearted fiction. I'm not that hip on those "deep" books like The Shack.

3. I also need a new devotional/bible study book. One for me personally as well as a couples one. Any suggestions?

4. Has anyone tried the Shark Steam Mop? I want one BADLY, but I want a review first. How do you clean your wood floors?

A trip down memory lane via music

I've always been a music fan. I like finding new music, I love finding new artists, I enjoy concerts, and I have an impeccable memory when it comes to song lyrics. Tonight I was bored and I think I had a little cabin fever due to the Seattle-Like rain this week. I decided to take a drive in the cool weather, but it was so spur-of-the-moment, I forgot my right arm iphone. So, with nothing on the radio, I was left to dust off my cd case! Oh, it seems like forever since I've opened that thing! And since I was on a SOTM (spur of the moment) trip, I decided to randomly flip pages, point to a cd with my eyes closed, and pop it in.... This is what I got:

A total of ONE of you will even know what this cd is. "Music to Shuffleboard By" is a cd that was created for me and a group of friends our senior year of high school. This was almost 10 years ago, so it was before anyone knew how or had the resources to burn cds. There was one guy in school who burned cds for people for like $2. He made this one for us to take on our senior trip. The first song is "yall gone make me lose my mind, up in here, up in here" by DMX. Other songs include:

• I think I did it again, Brittney Spears
• Veronica, LFO (remember them?)
• "Won't the real slim shady please stand up"
• Thong Song
• And, "Back that ___ up"

Yes, I really am serious... And what's more? I know every word to every one of the 13 songs on the cd. And the really sad part? I enjoyed the trip down memory lane so much, I drove all over East End until I had listened to every song...pathetic, I know.

Here is a picture of just one of my cd album pages

This was also a random-flip. The cd's on these two pages include:

• Ryan Adams Rock N Roll (do not confuse with BRYAN Adams)
• Xscape Single: "Run to the arms of the one who loves you"
• Forces of Nature Soundtrack (in my opinion, one of the two best albums EVER
• Counting Crows Hard Candy
• Pete Yorn
• Jennifer Love Hewitt
• DMB Busted Stuff

The Xscape Single literally makes me laugh out loud. PLEASE comment if you even know what single I'm talking about. My friend Tracy and I bought this single cd back when she got her first car. Back then they didn't really put cd players in cars very often. We had these portable cd players though that we hooked into the car with a tape adapter (remember these?). We had a whole "routine" that we did to this song. We sang using hairbrushes as microphones and everything.

This cd was a Valentine's Day gift from my friend/roommate Ashley. Every single song has the word Charity, Char, or Cherry. Oh, It's a halarious cd. And a sweet gift.

This cd is from one of my FAVORITE bands of all time. Better Than Ezra How Does your Garden Grow? It isn't quite my favorite BTE cd, but I love it all the same.

This next cd is so good, and I've forgotten about it! It's Jennifer Knapp The Way I Am. I LOVE this cd. You can see that itt has a fingerprint on it made with brown paint. Back when this cd came out, my friend and I were remodeling a house. I guess I was painting one day and got a fingerprint on it. It is almost so scratched that I can no longer get through the whole thing, but I love every song.

What cds are in your old, dusty, cd case?

Friendship

I'm in the thick of planning lessons for my 7th graders about "forming friendships." All day today I couldn't help but to think about my own experience with forming friendships. I have friends from high school, college, church, as well as "friends-in law" (friends of my friends who I have consequently become friends with). I also have a lot of lost friendships.

Some lost because I never see them.

Some lost because of a disagreement or misunderstanding.

Some lost because of a friend-in-law situation (example, I made several CLOSE friends while dating someone, but when we broke up, the friends broke up too).

Some lost because I have been a bad friend.

Here are some of the things on my heart tonight... Sorry for the rambling.

To Ashley,

I'm glad we've remained friends through good times and bad. Sickness (car wrecks included) and health, richer (tunica included) and poorer. I love you, and even though we don't speak as often as I'd like to, I know we can always pick up where we left off. We've had some hard times individually and together, but I have so many good memories with you. I love you so much.

To ______________,

I doubt you even read this blog, but if by some chance you do, I miss you so much. I know that _________ and ______ were friends long before we were, but when I met you I knew instantly we'd click. You were always my favorite friend to be around, and I could always count on you (and ______) for advice. I am so sorry that my wedding invitation didn't make it to your house, and I am even more sorry that it hurt you. I never meant for it to and I'd give anything to re-connect with you. I pray for you, ________, and ______ so often. I hope you are so happy and doing well.

To Andrea,

You are one of the first people I met in Jr. High and I just didn't understand how you could be so nice to everyone. I was so glad when we got back in touch because you are an inspiration to me, even if you don't know it. You are a wonderful christian wife and I can learn so much from you. I love being around you and I miss our lunches together. I so wish I could see or talk to you more often and I feel like my excuse of "I don't have email at school" isn't good enough. I miss you.

To Melissa,

We have grown up together and I'm glad that we are still "cousin/friends" as adults. You are truly my kindred spirit, and I think it is too funny how alike we are, while being different too. I can't wait to meet your little baby (hopefully girl). I hope I can have a little girl too and they can be as close as we are.

PS I love the way you laugh

To Sarah,

Sarah, you are one of my very favorite friends. You are always there for me, and I am blessed to have traveled through the most difficult times of my life with you (NCIDQ included). Thank you for being my friend.

To _____________

I miss you the most. So much. I know we can't be as close as we once were (and yes, I understand why) but sometimes my heart physically aches because we can't. You truly helped me become the person that I am today and I didn't even realize it along the way. You always pushed me to be a better person, even though at the time I griped at you for pushing too hard. The memories I have with you are priceless. Sometimes I wish things were different...and that's all I can say about that. Thank you for being my friend, even now when it is really hard.

To Kristen,

We haven't been able to be friends IRL (in real life) for so long, but I'm glad we reconnected via the internet. I also have so many good and fun memories with you and Sometimes I wish we could go back to those days...the carefree ones. I hope we can continue to stay in touch, even if it's only online.

To Steph,

Oh Stephanie, you are truly my bestie (as my 7th graders would say). I can't believe that after all these years we are finally back in the same city and we never see eachother! I love you like a sister (LYLAS, for real) and I secretly wish we were next door neighbors. Thank you for everything you've been and meant to me throughout our 15 years (!!!) of friendship.

Tracy,

There was once a time when I thought that you and I would be joined at the hip forever. I don't remember what drew us apart, but I'm willing to bet that it was my fault. You are another that I have SO MANY fun memories with (going parking in sheridan and getting my mom's car stuck included). I miss your friendship...a lot...

Dear MMM,

Oh, we had so much fun together! You are another friend that I feel like we are so much alike. I miss our fun times and our long talks, and singing together. It seems as if we were both going through strange phases during the beginning of our friendship but we somehow understood eachother perfectly. I miss your friendship, but I'm glad we can connect through our blogs.

Love,

Charity :) / :(

Ode to Sophie

How much is that doggie in the window (arf arf)?

The one with the waggedy tail?

How much is that doggie in the window (arf arf)?

I sure hope that doggie's for sale.

A long, short week

This has been the LONGEST short week I've ever had. I'm way too tired to even THINK about my to do list, but because of it I can't seem to get more than one week ahead of myself in regard to lesson plans. And by that I mean that some days I think to myself "what in the world are my students going to do for 50 minutes today? Is there a movie in the library they can watch?" Just kidding about the movie thing...I do have plans, but usually my days are planned the night before. This week, we are studying family relationships and what I thought was a basic crash course on "Getting along with your Parents 101" tugged at my heartstrings more than I thought possible.

About once a week I assign my students an "exit slip" which is a writing strategy that I learned about this summer. I asked students this week to write down any family issues that they would like to discuss while we were studying healthy families. I told them to just let me know if they would rather me respond to their question in private. Surprisingly, A LOT of students took me up on the offer. Their questions broke my heart...divorce, dead parents, problems with step-parents...everything. One by one I wrote letters back to the students and decorated the envelopes. I picked up the last letter and my heart literally dropped into my stomach when I read her question.

Long story short, her mother has been beating her.

I went ahead and wrote her back and told her that even though every parent has a different manner in which they discipline their children, it is NEVER ok for a parent to beat them. The next day, I took her in the hallway and asked her more about it. I cannot share any more details but the things she told me in the hallway put me in a HORRIBLE position. Today I will be forced to "tell" on this parent...because it is the law. Because it is the right thing to do. Because I cannot look at that little girl every day, knowing that he mother beats her, if I don't do everything in my power to stop it.

My heart breaks for her. But more than that, my heart breaks because she is not the only one. My heart breaks because when her mom finds out that she told her teacher what is going on, she will probably get beat up even worse. My heart breaks because I worry about her, and the others, long after the school day is over.

Yes, this short week has been so long...

So Long Sweet Summer...

I have a love/hate relationship with Labor Day...

I love going to the lake for a long weekend

I hate that it is the LAST long lake weekend.

I love getting out my cute fall clothes (boots, scarves, denim)

I hate giving up the white pants, white skirts, and open-toed shoes.

I love the upcoming fall weather, holidays, and crisp air.

I hate leaving behind long days at the pool, gardening, and beach vacations.

And, since I am too burned-out with school business, I'll leave you with some pictures of our summer beach vacation....in a POP-UP CAMPER!

We did NOTHING except lay on the beach for 7 wonderful days. See all my freckles?

This was our setup. Yes, we were the only pop-up camper in the park. No, we were not embarrassed.

we were so happy and relaxed in this picture... sorry that it's sideways

Our umbrella blew away...

My mom and dad sitting on the dock of the bay...the RV park (or pop-up park, whichever way you roll) was on the bay...beautiful.

So long sweet summer...

Why so red in the face?

Today I taught my 7th graders about STD's. I knew they would be giggly, and I knew that 6th period would be on especially bad behavior. So, I called a few mommas, sent a few emails to mommas, and asked for a little classroom management advice from my Assistant Principal, who is also a coach.

I asked the students if they had any questions, and I expected a few off the wall ones....What I didn't expect was having to explain the difference between "real sex" (a term they used in the STD movie) and oral sex....In front of said Assistant Principal who came into my classroom during 6th period to make sure they behaved themselves...

So, how was your day?