Snow in the South!!

"“Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool." ~Isaiah 1:18 ESV 

It has been cold here in the south!  The roosters and I have been home for the past two days b/c schools have been cancelled.  The Colonel, on the other hand, has had to work late the last few days b/c he has had to coordinate with the Governor's office regarding what support the SC Guard needs to provide.  The Colonel is the director of logistics for the Guard in our state, so he has been on "go" since the threat of sever weather hit the airwaves.  I'm sure he is glad things are settling down.  

While the kids have loved the snow, and I have loved being home without the added stress of schoolwork, I am not really a snow person.  It is cold, wet, and looks yucky when things start clearing up.  I love the "sound" of the earth when it does snow, but I really don't care for snow like some people do. For me, the perfect snow day would be inside, with a fire, warm food and a book. I'll take looking at the white blanket from my living room window.  

Again, pictures are easier to tell our story for the past few days...Here is my crew in all our southerness...HA

The first snow day off from school found us all home (except the Colonel) with no snow!  I am grateful that the districts called it early b/c I feel for the students in Atlanta that got snowed in and all the people on the Interstate that took forever to get home.  I was reading one gal's blog, and she said it took her husband 16 hours to get home.  I can't imagine.  That's enough time to get to the Mouse House and back. 

I cooked a crockpot full of chicken and dumplings.  So good and just hit the spot on such a cold night.  We are having left-overs tonight.  It is freezing outside!!

When we went to Disney/Universal over the CHRISTmas break, we went on the "Twister" sound stage and got to experience a portion of the movie.  The Roosters thought it was so cool and have been begging to see the movie.  I rented it from Netflix and it came yesterday.  We curled up on the sofa and watched it. I couldn't believe the boys watched the entire thing.  Nick was mesmerized the entire show.  It was neat to watch the movie after learning how some scenes were made.

And this poor baby has a stomach bug.  John Ryan stayed on the couch with a trash can next to him most of the day.  He slept a good bit but ate next to nothing.

These were on sale a Publix, so I decided to try them.  OMG!  They are so good.  They make different flavors but only the lemon seemed to "speak" to me.  Definitely my new "go to" when I want a little something sweet.

Look how big it is!!  Nothing like a catalog, Dt Mt Dew and Newton Lemon Crisps.

These were my snow boots today.  I have found that Jessica Simpson makes the most comfortable yet stylish boots.  (These are Simpson boots but they are on the no glam side.  They look great with jeans though.)

Nick is ALL BOY!  He had snow everywhere and never complained once during our walk.  

Nick's snow angel...John Ryan was not about to lay down in that cold, wet, mess...He is my OCD child--very neat and analytical...Total opposite of his twin...

Nick had more snow on him than we had in our yard I do believe!!

This is the way we do "snow" in the south.  

Walking through the neighborhood

My John Ryan was such a trooper...Even feeling yuck, he walked with us...Poor thing

Blake doing something...???

Potato soup was lunch today...So good...

And this was John Ryan for most of the day...Breaks my heart that he isn't feeling good...I think the Colonel is taking him to the doctor tomorrow...Bug isn't going away...Going to find out what is going on with this little cluck...

And I guess it is back to work tomorrow...Districts around us are on a two hour delay and I just got the call from my district that we should report to school two-hours later than normal...Fun and games are over...It's back to the real world...

Happy Dance! Happy Dance!

"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice." ~ Philippians 4:4

Yes, I am doing my happy dance tonight.  It comes right after the snow dance a few coworkers and I did after school today.  It worked!!  We have no school tomorrow!!  

This past week has been busy.  It's easier to tell the story in pictures. 

I really need to find a new pair of shades.  Blake calls me "Hollywood" b/c he says I look like the actresses that wear them when they are looking rough and trying to hide.  HA!

I started my winter Bible study at Shandon this past week.  Large group of ladies but I think the study will be good.

I did this to give my coworkers a little chuckle.  I found this braid on my floor.  I am sure it belongs to a student that I had to tell to please stop putting her hair in during my math class.  When I found it on the floor, I hot glued it to the outside of my classroom door with a "Lost and Found" note above it.  My coworkers took pictures of it and told me it was priceless.  

This is how I drive.  Usually my cell phone is in my seat along with my Dt Mt Dew.  Yes, I have a cup holder, but usually it is filled with something other than a drink.  My SUV is a mess.  (Yep, wearing my favorite "boyfriend" jeans again.)

Hit pay dirt this weekend.  I got two tops, four scarves, a pair of earrings, toothpaste and gum for less than fifty bucks!  This top was three dollars!

Sweetness or ET?  HA!

Pork rolled around spinach and mozzarella cheese...The Colonel loved it; I disliked it.  Not going on the "keeper" list.

Publix was out of the pecan bars, so I decided to try the roasted almond.  OMG!  Delicious!  I eat these every morning on my way to work.  Perfect breakfast along with a Diet Mt Dew.

I have a thing for roosters in my kitchen.  I thought this one would be cute for spring.  

My earrings I found.  

OMG!  Now THIS chili is a "keeper."  It was so good.  I jazzed it up with onion, diced tomatoes, bell pepper and kidney beans.  I had this with a big hunk of cornbread.  LOVED IT!!

Keeper

I was craving fried pickles so I picked this up from the grocery store.  I think I over-cooked them.  They were hard and not the flavor I was wanting.  

Sunday I got to the sanctuary early b/c our Sunday school class got out early so the choir members could get to the choir room.  Alberta (You know her as the fabulous Mrs. Stewart) was finishing up a little practice session before worship.  I recorded a few seconds of her practicing.  (Below)  My phone video recorder does not do her justice. I agree with our pastor when he said that hearing Alberta Stewart sing is like a little piece of heaven.  It isn't just her voice, but her spirit when she sings.  Sure she is singing for us, but you KNOW beyond a shadow of a doubt, she is singing for her Jesus.  She has such joy on her face and you can feel the words she sings.  It is hard to explain.  Literally every time Alberta sings, I have goose bumps all over me the entire time she is singing.  It is pure worship.  Maybe that is the best words to describe her singing--pure worship filled with love.

I hope you'll continue to pray for the homeless family that I told you about in a previous post.  Our guidance counselor has found housing for the mother and her six children, but the paperwork always takes time when dealing with government agencies.  They are still in a hotel and teachers at our school are helping to pay for their stay until things get worked out with their new home.  We are praying that this family is in their new home soon, and the children adjust to their new school as the move will take them out of town.  We are trusting that the Lord has a plan for this mother and her six children and that He is working this sad situation out for good.  How comforting to all of us to know that our God is the same today as He was yesterday--that He does not change.  He loves all His children and "knows the plans He has for us."

Stay warm!

A Free Day

"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," declares the Lord.  Isaiah 55: 8

Today I didn't have to work b/c the Forest had a four-day weekend.  While other teachers in my district had a workday, being a year-round school gave us this day free.  The little clucks had to go to school because they attend school in a different district than where I teach.  Blake was off today with me, so I asked the big rooster if he wanted to hang out with me.  His excited response was, "Yeah, sure," as he was yawning and stretching and rolling over.  Here is our day (which began at 11:00 AM--I know we were sloths) in pictures with a few extra from yesterday...

Lunch today was Five Guys.  Now that Blake will finally eat hamburger meat, we get to go to burger joints.  However, he is still very picky about where he will go for a burger.  

What did any of us do before cell phones with data?

We both love fries from Five Guys. He eats his with the malt vinegar.  Gross.

 

Oh, no!!  It is "throw back" to my day at Old Navy!!  Actually, I think oxford shirts (which is what we called them)  Old Navy had an entire section of "back in the day" shirts except they didn't have the button-down collar.  Does that make it more "hip" or updated?  Now that I am the person who does the laundry, I left the shirts right where you see them.  I am NOT ironing those things.  (Although I will admit that a crisp, well-ironed shirt oxford shirt with jeans looks really sharp.)

I bought this cute sweater with the anchor oxford to go under it.  I figured if it was wrinkled under the sweater who would know and I certainly don't care.

I loved this scarf.  Reminds me of spring.  

Found this red shirt dress for $25.  Cute for school.

Yesterday I had my check-up at the optometrist office.  I have issues seeing at a distance with my right eye, so I wear glasses. However, lately I have had trouble reading with my left eye.  After my exam, the doctor informed me that I needed bifocals.  WHAT?!!  I was a little on the depressed side once she told me that, so I picked out these black frames.  If I have to look old, I at least want to try to look smart.  Thank goodness for technology and Progressive lens.

Selfie of my old self

Blake went with me to pick-up the roosters from school.  They think he hung the moon.  Love those three!

Week in Review

"But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.  The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance."  2 Peter 3:  8-9

My week has been busy with trying to stay organized.  The meal planning is going great.  However, my stab at trying one new recipe a week is not going so good. My beef brisket was horrible.  Then I tried Salisbury steak made with ground chuck.  I burned the first batch.  (As my friend Margaret said, "They were charred.")  Thank goodness I mixed up enough chuck to make six patties.  The Colonel loved it.  I found them to be okay.  It isn't a recipe that is good for a work day b/c I found the prep work to be rather long.  I like "fix and throw" meals on the days I work.  As for the cleaning routine...um....weeellll....cough....it isn't going so good.  I need to find a way to get home earlier.  Even though I can leave school at 2:45, this past week found me still at my desk well after four o'clock.  Staying late puts me getting home late which has me getting supper on the table late with little time to do much else other than homework with the boys and bathes.  After I get them settled, the last thing I want to do is clean a room.  Blah.  I'll figure it out at some point I guess.  Until then, here are some pictures of our week...

First off it my charred Salisbury steak patty.  It looks sort of like a cast of a footprint that might be taken by an FBI agent, doesn't it?  I tried to pick the "char" off of it, but that didn't work.  The dogs ended up with these.

This ended up being the Colonel's plate that night.  The second batch of steak fell apart but they were very flavorful and the gravy was super easy to make.  If I can make it, anyone can.  I may have been born and raised in the south, but I can not make gravy.  It always looks like brown glue.

The back of Nick's head always looks like a rat's nest in the morning, and he always says that he doesn't need to brush his hair.  Um, yes, Honey, you do.  

I love this magazine!  I am a magazine freak I must admit.  I won't even tell you how many I subscribe to.  I literally read and subscribe to all kinds--home decor, fashion, fitness, CHRISTian, cooking...I love to read and magazines are my weakness.

This is coming to Columbia soon.  I am not a fan of the circus either.  (So that makes the state fair, Disney and the circus I tend to dislike--I told you I'm not "that kind" of woman.)  The circus to me is too long.  It's hard for me to sit through it let alone my clucks.  I'm not sure how much the kids enough it either.  They managed to sit through it last year, and I know we'll probably go again this year.   I just find it hard to get excited about going.  

The Colonel playing Trouble with Double Trouble.  

After church today, I was craving a steak so we went to Longhorns which is my favorite place to get a tender, juicy filet.  The Clucks have to sit next to the Colonel when we go out to eat.

We bought Blake a Corolla to drive to school and to sports' practices; however, he has now decided that he wants to drive the Colonel's old 1997 F-150.  The Colonel got a few things repaired on it this past week and he and Blake cleaned it up.  Does anybody want to buy a Corolla?  HA!

Is that a camo ball cap?  Lord, love him!

Selfie after church...Whew, I am way past due for a hair cut...Going to add that to my "to do" list right now!!