High on Life...

Closing this door...

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy) — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 02:39:00 +0000

and moving on.

I will be starting 2010 blogging at Full of Light.

Come read!

Walk on the Water

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:33:00 +0000

Another song is speaking to my heart. I just want to put it here, so I've got it.

Matthew 11:28-30..."²⁸"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." I'm contemplating what it means for me to be yoked to God.

My recent revelation is that I have walls built up. I didn't think I did. I am an authentic person...what you see is what you get. I wear my emotions on my sleeve. However, I recently heard a quote about breaking down your walls...and was suddenly aware that I have many walls. They are not built to keep others out, but to keep ME in. I am now keenly aware that I am limiting myself, but it is so scary to consider stepping outside those walls. This is what I'm studying on now.

Anyway...the song. It's called "Walk on the Water" by Britt Nicole.

You look around
It's staring back at you
Another wave of doubt
Will it pull you under
You wonder

What if i'm overtaken
What if i never make it
What if no one's there?
Will you hear my prayer?

When you take that first step
Into the unknown
You know that he won't let you go

Chorus:

So what are you waiting for?
What do you have to lose?
Your insecurities try to alter you

You know you're made for more
So don't be afraid to move
Your faith is all
It takes in you
You can walk on the water too

Verse 2:
So get out
And let your fear fall to the ground
No time to waste
Don't wait
Don't you turn around and miss out
Everything you were made for
I know you're not sure
So you play it safe
Try to run away

If you take that first step
Into the unknown
He won't let you go

(chorus)

Bridge:
(step out)
Even when a storm hits
(step out)
Even when you're broken
(step out)
Even when your heart is telling you telling you to give up
(step out)
When your hope is stolen
(step out)
You can't see where you're going
You don't have to be afraid

So what are you waiting for?

(chorus)

Heading to CA

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy) — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 22:55:00 +0000

My dad is having some medical problems, and I am heading out to help where I can.

On the 3rd (also the 3rd anniversary of P's crash), my dad had a car accident. The scary thing is, he doesn't remember it. He thought he stopped at a stop sign, but witnesses saw him go off the shoulder, down into the ditch, scrape past a phone pole, go back across the highway, and into the ditch on the other side. He hit his head during the accident, but other than that was uninjured.

My mom brought him to the doctor to be evaluated for the "blackout" and he had a seizure in the waiting room. He was transported to a bigger hospital and had a CT scan. The CT scan revealed a pocket of spinal fluid where there shouldn't be one. He is having surgery tonight to relieve the pressure in his skull, and to have a drain placed. The neurosurgeon feels that this will relieve the pain he is in, but will not address his seizing, nor his "blackouts." He will be referred to neurology for that.

I am flying out tomorrow morning, and will be back on Sunday.

First Rite-Aid rebate items

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy) — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 22:02:00 +0000

And today, my first rebate items.

Razor was $11.99, marked down to $9.00. I had a $4.00 coupon. Toothpaste was on sale for $2.69, and I had a $1.00 coupon.

With tax, total out of pocket: $7.51
Rebates to be received: $7.69!

So, this stuff was totally free! Woot!

Getting started at CVS

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy) — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 19:59:00 +0000

I started CVSing today. This lotion is just the beginning, lol.

It is marked $7.99. I had a coupon for $1.50 off, bringing it down to $6.49. But! Then I used my CVS card, and earned $7 ECBs...so now I have $7 to spend. In essence this lotion cost me a nickel!

Another great shopping week

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy) — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 01:47:00 +0000

I actually got to use my coupon inventory this week, as well as more printables. This week we bought $76 worth of products, but only spent $31 out of pocket!!!

The cereal was my very first FREEBIE. It's $3.99 per box, but was B1G1...and then I had $2 off coupons! Sah-weeeet! Also, I got the 6-packs of water for a penny a piece, and the pink grocery bag was free for buying two Kellogg's products. Awesome!

Couponing

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy) — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 01:12:00 +0000

Last night, I went to a coupon class and learned how to save, and use coupons in conjunction with the store sales that go on. It will take a while to build up my "inventory" of coupons...but even just using online printable coupons, today I bought $130 worth of groceries, and spent $65 out of pocket! I got them for exactly half price! Woot!

My Declaration

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy) — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 23:18:00 +0000

We've been watching a lot of "Inkheart" lately, and I love the song that plays during the credits. It's called "My Declaration," and it's played and sung by Eliza Bennett (the girl who plays Meggie in the movie).

Today for the first time, I looked up the lyrics online...and oh my gosh. This song needs to be my new "theme song." It's exactly what I'm going through emotionally!

My Declaration:

I'm gonna be someone, I'm gonna give something,
I'm taking it on, I'm taking it on,
It's gonna be my life, so I'm gonna live each day and each night,
Taking it on, I'm taking it on

'cause I can't keep hiding, no I can't keep hiding, and I can't keep running away
So I'm gonna be stronger, I'm gonna be better made, I'm gonna give everything,
Just to bring me back again.

I'm gonna be a braver soul than this,
I'm gonna jump at all those many chances that i've missed,
I'm gonna live my life beyond all these fears and forms of cowardice that keep leading me on.
I'm gonna shine out like a beacon in the night,
I'm gonna wrap my fingers around the stars tonight,
'cause i'm taking it on, 'cause i'm taking it on...

No I can't keep hiding, no I can't keep hiding, no I can't keep running away
So I'm gonna be stronger, and I'm gonna be better made, and I'm gonna give everything,
Just to bring me back again.
So I'm gonna be stronger, I'm gonna be understood, and I'm gonna give everything
Just to bring me back again!

'cause I can't keep hiding, no I can't keep hiding, and I can't keep running away.

Ready for her close-up

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy) — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 22:31:00 +0000

A friend of ours has a photography business, and she is trying to build her pet portraiture portfolio, and invited us to bring Rosie in for a shoot this morning.

Rosie was nervous and skittish at first, and then very aloof...but I think she got some really sweet shots:

(clickable thumbnails)

Isn't she precious???

Seventh Grade

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy) — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 22:22:00 +0000

Yesterday was Shannon's first day of school...7th grade! I can't believe it. She has lots of friends in each class, which is a nice change from last year.

Every year, on the first day of school I take a picture of Shannon standing on our hearth. It's cool to see her get taller and taller in each one. I created an album on FB just for those pictures, so I can have them all in one place. LOVE IT!

Here are the pictures from yesterday morning: (clickable thumbnails)

365 Days

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy) — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 21:10:00 +0000

Not that I expect you to look at them all, lol...but I finished my 365 Days Project today! Yay!!!

I've stopped and started this project three times before, but I vowed this time to see it through to the end, and I made it! I'm so happy!

My goal with doing the 365 Days Project was not to achieve photographic masterpieces, or even *good* photographs. What I wanted was a simple photographic record of an entire year of my life. I think some of the reasoning behind my past "failures" was the time that it takes to upload and size photos on a daily basis. I decided that the photographic record was more important to me than the actual means of upload, etc. 98% of the photos in my 365 Days Project were taken and uploaded with my cell phone! I took the photos, and immediately sent them to Flickr...easy peasy...and now I'm done!

Woot woot!

Simplify

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy) — Sat, 30 May 2009 04:42:00 +0000

As I've talked about, I've been going through some major changes over the past few months. It's been such a relief to get back in touch with the real me. I hadn't truly realized just how many aspects of my true self that I had let slip away.

What's ironic, is that in adding these parts of my self BACK in, is leading me to a simpler existence. It seems funny that by adding things back, that I'm actually simplifying things.

What I'm realizing is...I'm not feeling the draw of blogging anymore. It seems like every time I blog, I have to say "Wow, I can't believe it's been "x amount" of time since I blogged last. And yet, I still felt this compulsion to keep coming and dragging it along. I suspect it's just due to habit. I mean...I've been blogging for seven years! That's noteworthy, y'know? I love having this journal of things that have gone on in my life, and the timeline in place...and yet...it's just not me anymore.

For now, I'm going to call this an indefinite hiatus. I don't want to completely pull the plug until I'm positive this is what I want.

If there is anyone who reads this that would like to keep in touch (Lisa? Diane? anyone else?), I'm on Facebook pretty much everyday now...and would love to "friend" you there, so we can stay connected. Email me at ravenzwife at gmail dot com!!!

Memorial Day

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy) — Tue, 26 May 2009 01:44:00 +0000

I spent time today thinking about and being grateful to our soldiers that have lost their lives protecting our freedom, but the most important one to me is my grandfather.

I wish I had gotten to meet him.

A great day!

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy) — Sun, 17 May 2009 05:36:00 +0000

Shannon's Duke TIP recognition ceremony was today...and it was so awesome! I swear, I have the coolest kid EVER!

So, we get to the university gymnasium where it's being held, and the whole gym floor is covered with rows of white folding chairs. Each folding chair had a student's name taped to it. Shan and I (P was parking the car) set out to find her seat. We went to the right row, and looked...and looked...and, it wasn't there! I was like "I sent in the paper! I know I did!" LOL!

Anyway, this lady comes over with her "Oh, you silly woman" expression on, and offered to find Shan's seat for us. And what do you know...I DO know how to alphabetize...it wasn't there! Then she asks what grade Shannon is in, and Shan tells her 6th grade. She said "Ohhh..." and led us over to this other lady.

The other lady (who turned out to be the one calling names during the ceremony) said "Oh! You're one of our 6th graders??? We are SO proud of you!"

I was kind, and smiley...but inside I was thinking "What in the world???"

She said..."All of those chairs are for the 7th graders being honored. These seats over here (motioning to front row of bleachers) are for the 6th graders. There were probably 350 7th graders honored today...and ELEVEN 6th graders. (!!!!)

I think my jaw might have hit the floor when I realized what she was telling us. My girl just never ceases to amaze me. She went on to tell me that roughly 72,000 Duke TIP students (from 16 states) were tested this Spring, and 24,000 scored well-enough to be invited to a State Recognition ceremony. Only about 240 of those students were sixth graders. Wow.

Needless to say, it was a really special afternoon. I took some pictures! Check 'em out!

Breathing easier

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy) — Sat, 16 May 2009 00:14:00 +0000

I'm breathing easier in more ways than one. My lungs are continuing to recover, and it is SO nice to be able to take a deep breath without being thrown into a huge coughing fit. I do NOT miss that, lol!

But also, I'm now on summer break! Woot! My last day with students was yesterday! I always feel a little bad celebrating the end of each year, because I adore my students, and truly love what I do...but I put 100% of myself into my work, and by the end of the year, I am just exhausted. Both physically and mentally.

I'm on such a personal journey right now, spiritually, emotionally, etc...that I'm thrilled to have some "me" time to dedicate to it. Yay!

Tomorrow Shannon has her Duke TIP Georgia Recognition Ceremony. I'm so darn proud of that girl. She's being recognized for her test scores on their test they administer. I guess her scores were some of the best in GA! Whoa.

The rest of the weekend will be pretty low-key. I need to finalize up my Bible Study lesson, but that's about it. Love it.

FINALLY feeling better

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy) — Tue, 05 May 2009 02:43:00 +0000

I have been SO sick. Since way back before Spring Break, I've been fighting this horrible respiratory virus. It started as viral bronchitis, worked it's way into walking pneumonia, and then went to asthmatic bronchitis. I was coughing all day, and all night. I literally was averaging about 3 hours of sleep per night.

Last week I had a brief (2 day) feeling of improvement, but then Thursday was awful again, and by Friday, I was just as bad as ever. I got into the doctor again Friday afternoon, and finally...FINALLY...have gotten a drug combo that is working. By Saturday afternoon I seriously felt about 75% better! It's Monday night now, and I'd say I'm about 90% well. Thank you, God!

And just in time, too. It's Mother's Day Tea week at preschool, which means tons of crafts, gifts, cards, scrapbooks, and food to be prepared. (But do you know what THAT means??? Next week is our LAST WEEK OF SCHOOL...OMGosh!)

Proud mama

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy) — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 15:44:00 +0000

Shan had kind of a big day yesterday. Earlier this week she got nominated for the all-county 6th grade honor band, and found out yesterday that she got in. She's really excited!

And then, also yesterday, she got a letter from that Duke Univ. thing she does, that she scored so high on the test they administer that she's invited to an awards ceremony at Southern Polytechnic State University to be recognized for her achievement!

She just keeps doing cool stuff, and I keep being amazed by her!

More spontaneous travel

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy) — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 00:10:00 +0000

Last weekend, we had plans to spend the day with my favorite Tricia and her family. They were coming into Atlanta for the weekend, after spending time with family in TN. Well, unexpectedly at the last minute, their plans had to be changed...and late Friday evening, Tricia texted me to see if Shan and I could come up to TN to spend the weekend with them. So we did! Shan was at a Girl Scout meeting when I got the message, so as soon as she was done...we left!

Mostly we just hung out, chatted, were silly, and just generally enjoyed each other's company. On Saturday afternoon we made a trip into Chattanooga to the aquarium and IMAX movie. It was great!

I love my friends, and I love getting to spend time with them!

In my thoughts and prayers

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy) — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 03:43:00 +0000

A close call

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy) — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 00:09:00 +0000

Well that was wild.

Shannon's out with friends tonight, so Patrick and I decided to go out to dinner, and then stop and buy stuff for Shan's Easter basket. There were storms on their way in (the ones from Tennessee, if you heard about them....), but it seemed like we had time.

We ate dinner, and then headed to Target. As we headed into Target, the tornado sirens went off. They made an announcement inside Target that it was actually a severe thunderstorm warning, but that we were under a tornado watch. We decided to head home, rather than wait around to see if a tornado came up. Starting our drive, there was just thunder and lightning, but pretty soon it started to rain. Nothing major.

A few miles later it started raining hard. And then HARDER. I told Patrick not to feel like he had to keep going. If it was too hard to see, or too much water, to just pull off. He said he was OK for now.

Just as we were turning onto our highway, the sky went green...and it started to hail. Patrick pulled into a church parking lot and we pulled up under the little "car port" roof to keep the hail off.

I wasn't scared...just really...alert. The lightning was RIGHT on top of us, and the wind picked up enough that part of a downspout blew off one of the church buildings. It wasn't a direct hit by a tornado, but there must have been one close by. The surreal part was talking to Patrick about where we would run and what we'd hold onto if we needed to leave our truck.

We stayed until the sky and rain lightened up quite a bit, and then drove home. A tornado warning had been issued for the county we were in, and our county too.

I talked to the mom that Shan's with, and they're fine too.

Spooky weather!

Trip update and pictures

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy) — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 19:33:00 +0000

Tuesday afternoon, we drove by the Biltmore property (too spendy to go in, lol! $50 a person? Nope, not happening), stayed overnight in a hotel, and then did two attractions yesterday. We went to the Western NC Nature Center, and then went to Chimney Rock park.

On the way home, we passed a sign for Carl Sandburg's home...and thought that sounded right up our alley...so we went there too! We got home around 8:30 last night.

Highlight pictures are HERE.

The full-set of pictures is HERE.

The amended spring break

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy) — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 23:05:00 +0000

So, it's spring break this week, and we were supposed to go camping with my BFF and her family. And then I got bronchitis. Grr. We decided that it reaaaallly wasn't that smart for me to be sleeping outside and breathing campfire smoke...so we canceled. We discovered, after the fact, that the campground's cancellation policy really leaves something to be desired. Pretty much, you can't cancel. They don't offer refunds. They offered us 1/2 of our money back...as a credit at their campground. Um, not acceptable. Patrick told them that they could give us ALL of our money back as a credit, or he would take it up with our CC company. They relented. Stupidness. So, the bad news is...we're not camping, and we didn't get our money back. The good news is: we have a 4 day camping trip already paid for...I guess we'll take it some time this summer, lol.

I started feeling a bit human yesterday, so I decided to suprise Shannon with a "fun day." I told her we would drive 2, 4, or 6 hours from home (she got to pick...without knowing WHAT she was picking), and then do something fun at that location. She picked 4...which translated into 4 HOURS from home. We started driving, and ended up in Asheville, NC! We took pictures of the goofy things we saw on the way...and perhaps the goofiest thing of all, is that it has been snowing off and on ALL day! Weird April weather!

I got a good rate on a hotel room, so P said we can stay 2 nights if we'd like. Our plans for tomorrow are a nature preserve, and then a hike...and then Th morning, an outdoor art walk. Then we'll head home.

I love our fun, spontaneous, adventures!

Bronchitis

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy) — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 10:22:00 +0000

Well, I didn't feel better yesterday morning. I went to the doctor, and I've got a lovely case of viral bronchitis. So, no antibiotics for me...and no more school this week. Gah. Normally, I might say "Wooo...early Spring Break!" (Spring Break starts this Friday.) But I feel too sick to be that jubilant, lol. (I can remember being in 2nd grade, and falling down (badly) at school. They sent me home mid-day, to my babysitter's, and as I was walking home (this was the 70's, remember), I can remember having thoughts akin to "Ha ha, suckers! I got to leave school early!" After I found out my arm was broken in two places, the joke was on me, lol. Kinda the same thing, lol.)

Anyway. One of my aides had her last day on Tuesday. She had an emergency appendectomy two weeks ago, and her post-op restrictions are just not conducive to working in a busy, and unpredictable two-year-old classroom. She decided to step aside, and let my other aide take over, and therefore work 5-days. Tuesday was our Bye-Bye Party for Aide #1, so I needed to attend...a) because she's not allowed to lift, bend, pull, twist, move quickly, etc. So I got to be the able-bodied one, ha!...and b) I felt like I just really needed to be there on her last day.

My intention was to take Wednesday off if I needed to, but to work again on Thursday for aide #2's first day with that class. Not only was it her first day in there, but also our Easter party! All of the parents would be coming, and I just didn't want to "leave her to the wolves" (kidding here) on her own.

Well, plllbt on that plan. My doctor was adamant that I NOT work anymore this week. Like, not even a possibility. Sooo...aide #2 is on her own today, with the kids, and meeting all the parents. I mean, there will be a sub in there with her...but not the same thing as ME being there, y'know?

Sigh.

We're supposed to go camping with my BFF's family, leaving on Saturday...for four days. PLEASE let me be well enough to go. PLEASE!!! I looked up the campground's cancellation policy, and basically the policy is...you can't cancel. Not only would I be terribly disappointed, but we'd also lose our $. Crud.

Healing vibes needed over here, please!

Sick as a dog

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy) — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 23:34:00 +0000

Why do people say that? Are dogs prone to being especially sickly? I dunno...but I am sick as a dog.

I started feeling the beginnings of something brewing last wednesday. I had this like...dry, burny feeling in my chest. Kinda tight, kinda heavy...but not anything that demanded my attention.

Thursday, I developed this weird very low sore throat. Like...the pain was behind that hollow in your neck, where your collarbones attach? And it wasn't an achy sore throat...it was burny.

Friday I stayed home from work, with the hopes of resting and getting this nastiness to leave. No dice. I was sick all weekend, and stayed home from work yesterday too.

Today, I woke up at 5:30 am with a 102.4 temperature. I had to go to work today because my class is going through a huge transition, and it was my aide's last day. I made it all day, but really felt YUCK all day.

Tomorrow, even though it's our Easter party, I am staying home again. If I feel like I do today, I'm going to the doctor. Hopefully I've just got a bug that dropped into my chest, and nothing horrid like bronchitis or pneumonia going on.

Well or not, I've gotta go back to work on Thursday, because it's my new aide's first day, and that class' Easter party.

Soooo, get better Cindy!!! Hurry up!

Stepping out of the boat

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy) — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 21:08:00 +0000

I recently read Matthew 14:22-33. To say it took my breath away would be an understatement. A definite a-ha moment!

The story tells us that the disciples were out in a boat, while Jesus remained on the shore, praying. The boat got into heavy waves. Jesus walked on the water, out to the boat. The disciples saw him, and were terrified...they thought he was a ghost.

Peter finally spoke up and said "Lord, if it is you, call me to you on the water." Jesus simply commanded, "Come." Peter stepped out of the boat, and began walking to Jesus on the water. Peter looked around and noticed the waves and wind; he became afraid and started to sink. He cried out, "Lord, save me!" and Jesus reached out and saved him. Jesus said "You of little faith, why did you doubt?" Together they reached the boat, and the wind ceased. Those in the boat worshiped him and said "Truly you are the Son of God."

It is important to note that Jesus did not calm the waves when he called Peter to him. Peter stepped out of the boat, and walked on TOP of the waves. When he looked down into the waves, he became afraid and began to sink. He called out to Jesus to save him, and Jesus did.

To me, the waves represent the problems, worries, turmoil, anxieties in our life. Jesus did not calm the waves (take away our problems). When we keep our eyes and hearts on Him, we will be able to walk on TOP of them. It is when we lose our focus on Jesus that we sink.

Jesus is calling to us to step out of the boat, and to keep our eyes on Him.