Such a Great Book!!

Recently I read this book:

I highly recommend that everyone read this book.  It is about a 5th grader named Melody.  She is brilliant.  The problem is that nobody knows it.  Melody also has Cerebral Palsy.  She has never spoken a word or had friends.  The book talks about her journey to become a "regular" kid and letting everyone know what is truly going on insider her.  

This book should be read by all kids, parents, teachers, and anyone else that is interested in knowing what it is like to have be different from what is considered the norm.  There are so many things I would never have thought about that Melody faces.  I teach special education and I now realize no matter how much I know about a particular disability, I don't really know what life is like for that child.

This book encourages people to not assume anything and to empathize with people with a disability, but don't have pity on them.  My job should be to help them to reach their fullest potential and offer them the support they need to be as independent as possible.  I should also empathize with parents and help them find the support and resources they need.

I'll be quiet now, but I could go on and on about this book.  It touched me so deeply.  I laughed, cried, cheered, and got angry while reading this book.  It showed me the true nature of so many people.  It made me want to be a better woman and teacher.  

Men Are From.....

I absolutely love my hubby and wouldn't trade him for anything.  Most of the time!  If you had asked me to trade him on Thursday, I probably would have.  I really wanted to wring his neck.

We spent last weekend in Fayetteville.  On Monday, mom and hubby headed back to Central Arkansas.  I stayed in Fayetteville.  I had inservice on Monday and Tuesday, and a conference Thursday so I stayed behind.  I did get quality time working in my classroom.  Thursday after my conference I headed on down for one last time before I head back to work.

I was excited to get back.  I was ready to see hubby and hang out with mom!  The excitement ended the moment I waled in the door.  I wouldn't go so far as to say the house was a disaster, but it definitely was in the condition I like.  The cooler used to transport food was still sitting in the kitchen floor.  I mentioned this and the conversation went like this:

Hubby: "I don't know where it goes."

Me:  "Why do you think is sits in the kitchen?  Has it been here all summer?"  (Hubby does know that we store our traveling paraphernalia in the spare bedroom.)

Hubby: "No, but I didn't see where you got it from before we left."  (Our house isn't that big, so we don't have that many options of places to put things.)

After that conversation, I went about straightening and putting up what I had brought with me.  I then noticed the bathroom.  He didn't seem to think that it needed to be cleaned because all he did was take showers in there.  Anyway, we know guys do a lot more than just shower in their.  Yuck!

Later, I got in the fridge to get out the milk.  Guess what, there wasn't any.  Usually not a big deal, but he did tell me the day before we were out and that he was going to go buy some.  I had bought some in Fayetteville that I could have brought with me, IF someone had told me we needed it.

The list could conversations could go on and on, but I really wonder sometimes what planet men are really from.  I know it's not the same one that women are!  In the end, everything was fine.  I got the house back into the shape I can live with, at least until the next time I leave hubby at home alone!

Semi-Wordless Wednesday

I seriously need help!  I spend way too much time playing this game on facebook.  I'm addicted and can't stop.  Tips for giving up this addiction are welcome!  Or, if you play, I'll try to help you win!  Like I said, I'm addicted!!

Hot, Hot, Hot!

Those are the only words I can use to describe the weather this week.  I came back to Fayetteville this week for some inservice.  I expected it to be the 5-10 degrees cooler than Central Arkansas that it normally is.  Well, that notion flew out the window on the first day.  It has been right around 100 all week.  That is just too hot and it is expected to continue at least through tomorrow!  Yuck!  My plan for survival is to avoid the great outdoors as much as possible and to get from a building to the car as super quick as possible and vice versa.  I have move my exercising indoors so that I don't die from heat exhaustion/stroke/or any other heat related problem.  In case you can't tell, I hate it being so hot.  Really not a fan!

Also, my friend, Shannon, is hosting a giveaway on her blog this week.  It is a $60 gift card to CSNStores.com .  Head on over to It's Trickey to check it out!

Wedding Memories

We have attended a wedding each of the past two weekends.  I love weddings.  They always bring back such good memories for me.  I think back to that day in June of 2007 when hubby and I exchanged our vows. I start thinking of the ceremony, the dresses, the flowers, the food, the cake, and on and on.  To me, that was the most perfect day of my life.  It was also the most perfect wedding I have ever been to.

I don't say that to put down other people's weddings that I have attended. I have immensely enjoyed all of them.  It is an honor to be awitness to the sacred union that is being formed.   I feel everyone should remember their own wedding as perfect.  It is a happy and joyous thing to marry the person you love, your best friend.

Things aren't always easy for hubby and I, but when I stop and think back to that day where we promised to stick by each other, for better or for worse, I know we can make it through anything together.  Seeing other people make that same promise to each other reminds me of how deeply I meant it and will forever mean it. Weddings are a time of reflection for other married couples, and a celebration of a couple's new marriage.