Five Question Friday

Yay, it's finally Friday!  I hope everyone has a great weekend!



1. Do you swim in the winter?
No, but not because I wouldn't like to.  If it was warm enough or if I had access to an indoor pool I would definitely be swimming.  I love to be in the water and know it would be so relaxing to be able to swim my troubles away.


2. Do you love or hate winter?
I have a love/hate relationship with winter.  I used to love winter weather and getting snow and snow days.  But, after the Snowmageddon of 2011 and the ten snow days we had to make up which caused us not to get out of school until June 8 I don't love winter quite so much.  I guess that's a good thing because we haven't one lick of real winter weather this year.  Snow sure is beautiful and I'm sure I'll love it when it returns to us, which hopefully won't be until next winter.


3. Do you put makeup/actual clothes on when you know you're going to be home all day with just family?
Well, I usually put on some kind of clothes, but I definitely don't put on make-up.  The only reason I put on clothes is because I feel so grimy if I just stay in my pajamas all day.  I also either get a shower or bath at some point during the day.  My family doesn't deserve seeing me look/smell horrible just because we are staying home all day.


4. How old were you when you had your first alcoholic beverage?
I'm sure it was some point in college when I had my first real alcoholic beverage and I knew I was doing it.  I have been told that when I was little I would try to drink my dad's little beers if he would set them down, which is kinda funny now since I won't touch a beer at all.  That stuff is nasty!  The first time I ordered my own drink was when I was 20.  I went to New Orleans that Spring Break (I didn't turn 21 until May).  I was with my mom and when she ordered the waiter asked if I wanted anything and when I ordered I wasn't carded.  It was a good drink, too.  I don't feel too bad since I was with my mom.


5. How many ill calls in a 12 month period do you think are acceptable?
As a teacher, I get 10 sick days a year.  Three of those can also be used as personal days.  That averages out to about one per month.  Any that I don't use can be rolled over to use another year.  I can accumulate up to 90 sick days and any above that I get paid for.  I try to only use about five of the ones I am alotted so I can save some up to use when a little bambino arrives.  I imagine it will be pretty nice to have a paid maternity leave.

Turning a Corner

I feel like I have been turning a corner in the last couple weeks.  It was a corner that I wasn't even aware was there.  I am feeling like for the first time in a while everything is going to be alright.  There really are good times ahead.

I guess I have been in a funk.  Some people may want to call it a depression or anxiety.  Whatever the name for it is, I don't have those bad, oppressive feelings anymore.  I feel like a fog has been lifted.  I know a lot of the problems came from stress.  I was stressed over our financial situation.  I was stressed from both of us being in school.  I was stressed over the future.  I was stressed about hubby's job situation and the impending loss of his job.  Mainly, I was stressed from a lack of faith.

While our problems haven't been completely solved, I don't sit around worrying about them near as much.  I have faith that our situation will be worked out according to God's will and I am making an effort to listen to his will.  Hubby's new job really came at the perfect time, His time.    This job has eased our financial burden and given hubby experience so that hopefully he will find a teaching in NWA and we can be together again.  If that is not part of the plan, we will monitor and adjust like all good teachers do.

It is so refreshing to not feel uptight and about to burst into tears at any moment, which is how I spent most of October and November.  We have adjusted to our new schedule and really cherish our weekend time together.  While I did take medication for a short period of time to help me get my emotions under control, I no longer need that and am just feeling so much happier.

I spend more time reading my Bible and talking and praying to God.  I am just so amazed by his power and grace.  I truly believe that I am never alone.  I don't have to go through the dark times alone and I don't have to go through the great times alone.  That is such an amazing feeling.

If I'm being truthful, I also think my new effort at exercising is helping.  While I don't enjoy doing it, I do enjoy the feeling I get when I am finished.  I have accomplished something.  I never have been and still am not a runner, but I do run/jog and feel proud for every little bit of improvement I make.  Life is looking up and I know there are still so many good things to come.

Almost Wordless Wednesday

I wanted to get a picture with my mom and with hubby last week while we were celebrating mom's birthday.  It was fairly easy to get a decent one with mom.



Getting one with hubby, on the other hand, wasn't so easy.







Finally, got one that can be a keeper.

Recipe: Taco Bites

I made these Taco Bites for a potluck at school last week.  They were gone pretty quickly so I guess they were pretty good.  I didn't get there in time to heat them up, but I guess they were ok straight from the fridge.  I bet they are even better warm.


This is another recipe I found on Pinterest.  Head on over to Pearls, Handcuffs, & Happy Hour to find the post I used for this recipe.


Here is what you'll need:





1 lb. ground beef
1 pkg. taco seasoning
24 wonton wrappers
cheese, any variety you like
any other taco toppings you like


Preheat oven to 425.  Spray a muffin tin with nonstick cooking spray so the wonton wrappers won't stick.  Then, place a wonton wrapper inside each cup.





Brown meat and drain. Return to pan and add taco seasoning and prepare according to package directions.  Scoop a tablespoon of taco meat into each cup.  Top the meat with cheese.





Put in oven and bake for 8 - 10 minutes, watching closely to not burn the wonton wrappers.  Remove from pan and serve with any other toppings you would like.  This ecipe makes about 24 Taco Bites.





Enjoy!

Birthday Celebration

Today is my mom's birthday, but we celebrated it over the weekend.  What a great weekend we had!

We went to a basketball game between our Razorbacks and Michigan.  They were ranked and we weren't.  It was a sellout crowd and a great time!





The band and the mascots were getting everyone pumped up before the game.



The students were excited and ready to cheer on their team!



There was a crazy guy that danced around so much he got put on the big screen.



The spirit squad showed their pride.





The football team was there for halftime to get their Cotton Bowl trophy and quarterback Tyler Wilson got his Offensive MVP trophy.

By the way, there was a basketball game, too.  And we won!





Since it was a birthday celebration, we also had cake.  I think it turned out amazing and mom really enjoyed it, too.











When there's a birthday you also have to have cards and presents.




"Another phone?!"  (We did get her a phone last year, but the box worked great to throw off the real gift.)


The real gift was coupons for a trip to Tulsa in February.  We are taking her to the Oklahoma Aquarium and a couple of restaurants that we all like in Tulsa.  We all enjoy these weekend getaways.