day 17 thru day 36....OOPS.

To put this as lady like as possible--I have been getting my booty handed to me these days. I am so terribly sorry I have been neglecting the blog, I sure do hope you forgive me. I plan to pick up the 19 days I have missed posting, but honestly, it may not be until this summer, when I have free time. Until then, please know that I am very thankful for the blessings in my life each and every day. For my wonderful family, friends, pup, career, opportunities, fun, etc.

What have I been doing these past couple of weeks? (Pictures to follow in later posts)

Bachelorette Party
Rentals at my auditorium
Studying for yet another Praxis exam (this is the last written one!!!!)
Showers for Veronica
Wrapping up my FINAL semester at UALR
Lesson plans/prep for my classes
Got new furniture for the kitchen (new table and a china cabinet)

Our neighborhood escaped the last leg of terrible storms (thank goodness!), though, they're telling us to get prepared for more bad weather tonight, and periodically the rest of this week. They are not joking about April showers this season! Maybe it means we'll have a cooler summer?!?!

So this isn't a completely boring post--here is a pic of some of my worker bees, lol:

day 16

Thankful for another day. Woo-eeee....I feel busy!! I just feel like I'm going and going and going and there is just never enough time. I just now looked at the clock and saw that I was 10 minutes away from missing yet another post. But--10 minutes is a long time, right!?! I am thankful each and every day that I am blessed with another day, even when it holds challenges, and heartbreaks, and all the negatives that could come with it.

At least it is there. Another day, another chance.

I'm also thankful that my friend, Jessica, gave birth to a beautiful baby girl yesterday. I'm so happy for the Byrd family and their new blessing. Introducing their little angel (photo is courtesy of Mama Jess):

Reagan Alexandra, born at 7:24 PM, March 28, 2011 8 lb. 11 oz. How do I word this? Even with the separation of me and her mama lately, I cannot express the joy and love I already feel for this little precious doll, and I haven't even met her yet. Look at those cheeks!!! Don't you just want to pinch 'em???

day 15

This was one of my wonderfuls last year, but it is still one of my all time favorites...a nice, long, hot bath (with a good book, of course). I read of places and times that could never afford this luxury, so of course, I'm thankful that (time permitting) I can soak for ever in a big ol' bathtub.

Now of course, I'd rather be here (but will take what I can get):


Dear Spring weather...please come back to stay!! I'm tired of being cold!! :)

day 14

oh my goodness. so sorry I keep missing posts. Thank goodness Lent season is actually longer than 40 days, right??? ;)

Ugh. With that said, I do deeply apologize.

My thankful for the day: that May 15th is getting closer! While I am so truly, from the bottom of my heart thankful that I have had the opportunity to be a student in grad school, I am also truly grateful, from the bottom of my heart, that regardless, my last class is in MAY!!!! I am getting just a little burnt out--and doing lesson plans for the kiddos and separate lesson plans (that usually have NOTHING to do with my actual content) for UALR can get a little...um....tiring.

Just a little.

And. Just received an email TODAY that my portfolio is due April 15. Lovely.

So so so glad that May is just a blink away.

Off to think about more SLEs and SLOs and goals and whatever else I can think of to tie my Arts class into the main curriculum (don't wanna mess with NLCB, right??)

Grrrrr....

My picture of the day is just to remind me that there are warm, summer-filled days in the future, since it decided to get to near-Winter temperatures these past couple of days. Beach. You're my friend, you are!

day 13

Saving up, searching high and low...and then finding just the right piece of furniture. It's superficial, yes, I know, but after almost a year of looking, I am SO excited to have finally found a new kitchen table and a China cabinet. Tim is super excited at having the home office empty of boxes (the office is the current home of all things that the China cabinet will hold).

day 12

A change on the horizon.

I know, I know...you're probably thinking, "is this something that really needs to be acknowledged?" Ummmm. Yes.

I am a child of Nolan's basketball and I have been heartbreakingly uninterested in Hog Ball for too long. Really, since Noland and his team left. But now, we're getting one back. Mike Anderson, a former assistant coach at the UA (and current Missouri coach) has agreed to come coach at the UA. I'm THRILLED.

So I'm thankful for a change on the horizon. A change that will hopefully give us that spark back that we have been longing for for so many years. We're ready to be back among the best. Because our program CAN BE amazing.

WOOOOOO PIG SOOIEEEE!!!!

day 11

Midweek, midafternoon naps. I forgot how lovely they are. When you're not sick, you just have an extra hour or two to relax, and you get to just lay down...and relax.

Oh how I love you, midweek, midafternoon naps! You're so rare!

day 10

Short and sweet. I love, love, love when these little gems pop out of the ground!!! Spring is a'comin'!!! :)

day 9

SPRING BREAK.

Short and sweet.

A paid week off? No complaints here.

See day 8 for an explanation of day 9.

SPRING BREAK. As a grown-up? Even better! I get to schedule appointments, work on things I've put off, etc. Yep. Pretty pathetic that I could care less about a beach or what have you (though, come summer vacay, I'll be singing a different tune)...

day 8

Disclaimer: The picture directly below does NOT belong to me!!!! I promise, I wouldn't make an announcement like that on the blog first...I am just trying to inspire his mama to start a blog. :)

Introducing...Baby Boy G. He belongs to Mr. and Mrs. G (one of my besties) and has already stolen my heart! :) He's due in July and I am just THRILLED that I have summers off so I can have plenty of time to steal snuggles and kisses from him!!


I am so very thrilled about all the little ones blessing our lives these days. It fills my heart, and my friends' joy becomes my own. Being able to prepare and welcome a new little one into this world has to be the truest miracle there is on this planet. I love being able to share this joy with my friends (and these days there are TONS of them!) that either have already welcomed a little one--or are preparing to do so. Little ones bring so much joy to just an ordinary day, and I am so thankful that my friends welcome me to share in their experiences. I know one day, this will be my #1 wonderful, planning and preparing to bring our own little one here...but for now, I'll thankfully live vicariously through my dear, dear friends. What a wonderful. :)

Below is little miss Olive (how fabulous is THAT name???). She is the daughter of some very dear friends of ours--and she is an absolute princess. How beautiful is this baby????

day 7

I am so very, very, very thankful for my job. Yes, you read that correctly. My job. I LOVE my job. It was a whirlwind to get here, but I am loving every minute of it. I love my kids (even though I don't always LIKE them), I love the content that I teach, I love my co-workers. I. LOVE. MY. JOB. I thank God every single night for this opportunity and pray that I am blessed to have this position for years to come.

It is challenging. Each and every day I wake up to something new. While my previous job could certainly be challenging at times, most of the time it seemed monotonous. Not where I am now. No siree...You have to constantly (and I mean CONSTANTLY) adjust and plan and adjust and plan.

I enjoy what I do. Truly enjoy it. It also makes those years I've spent in grad school make more sense. I've been told that my eyes light up when I talk about my job--and I believe it. Heh. Hubby even had a "slip up" one night and told me to stop talking about it all the time. It hurt my feelings at the time, but looking back on it now, it's hilarious. All I used to do was complain about my job--and now I'm getting fussed at because I talk about how much I enjoy it. Maybe he's just jealous. ;)

I could go on and on and on about this...the things I do, the things you hear when a bunch of 14-16 year olds don't think you're listening...the difference you can make in one child's life by simply saying "thank you" or believing in him...it's phenomenal.

I've been told it's a calling. That I'm crazy. That teaching is the last thing in the world someone else would want to do...and maybe all those statements are true, but to me, I'm just having fun. And maybe helping a kid along the way. I mean, just three months ago, I never had any qualms about using a "stern" voice with clients, and now, three short months later, it breaks my heart to have to get on to my students. What a difference a new career can make.

**Disclaimer**For those of you from my previous employer that check in on this blog...I miss you EVERY DAY. I wish I could have brought you with me. But, man, I LOVE MY JOB.

This is me and one of my fantastic coworkers. :)

day 5

My day 5 of wonderful is a good book. To me, good book is a gift. I am currently taking a literature class (adolescent literature at that) that requires me to read at minimum one book a week. And I'm LOVING it!!

For those of you that don't know me well, I read. I read A LOT. I try to average one book a week (though now, I'm kind of forced into it). I will read ANYTHING, too. An ongoing joke when I lived with my sister was that our house was a library because we have so many books between the two of us. Now, add in eBooks and the Kindle, and I'm in HEAVEN with a good book.

I have read (sometimes forcefully) through the long novels such as "War and Peace" and "Crime and Punishment" and flew through the short chick lits, such as "In Her Shoes." I am an addict to the vampire novels (the "Sookie Stackhouse" and "Twilight" series have stolen my heart), to the "Lord of the Ring" trilogies and of course, to Harry Potter. I have been inspired to the point of changing the way I live by books such as "Eat, Love, Pray" and "The Shack." Lately, I've been really stuck on Jodi Picoult, but just read The Hunger Games series in about three days (absolutely FANTASTIC, I highly recommend them!).





I LOVE TO READ. So...when I come across an amazing book, you know the kind, that you just can't put down? My heart and soul are transformed into whatever world I am reading about and I get to take a break from day to day living. Books bring me peace and for that I can never be too thankful.

Day 4

quick trips can be absolutely what the heart and soul needs. With our schedules, Tim and I haven't gotten to spend a lot of time together, so it's so nice to be able to get away every now and then. We went to New Orleans for the weekend. We got to spend time with family, and spend some quality time together, just the two of us. Fantastic weekend. I'll get some more pictures posted as soon as there are some I can steal from Amanda, who was much better at taking pictures than me! ;)

day 3

Grandparents. I am so very thankful for all of my grandparents. They have so much to teach, and offer so much love. I haven't had a grandmother since I was 14 years old...until I said "I do." Now, my life is again blessed with not one, but TWO wonderful women that consider me their own. It warms my heart to have so much love in my life.

day 2

Today I am so very thankful for the roof over my head. I know that at any given moment (especially living in Arkansas), that the roof over my head could go away. But each and absolutely every single day I thank our Lord that there is a roof over my head,over my husband's head...that I have a roof to protect my doggies, that are the closest thing to children that I have at this time in my life.

I understand that at any given moment--my roof could be taken away. I do. Which is why each and every morning I wake up and thank God for the roof over my head--each and every night I thank Him for a roof over my head.

While I am thankful, my prayers must extend to a heartfelt plea that the people of Japan are safe--and able to find a roof over their own heads. I cannot even begin to imagine the terror that they feel. My heart aches and breaks for them at this time...even as I sleep under a roof. I want the same for them. I pray that our Lord is protecting these souls and that comfort and safety finds them quickly.

Day 1

I'll start simple (and obvious). I am so very, very thankful for my amazing husband. He is my very best friend, my partner, my other half. I feel complete when I am sharing my life with him.

Sorry for the lack of any photos on this post. I'm headed down south to partake in some Irish activities. :)

40 days of wonderful

So, it is that time of year. A time to reflect, a time to learn. I embrace this time of year, as I truly do learn so much about myself, about my life, about the blessings that my life has been awarded. I also, honestly, am a bit intimidated by it, because posting for 40 days is a bit of a challenge--and you really do have to search the soul on some days to get a good post published. For those of you that will stop in to check on my journey, I welcome you. It's a challenge I embrace, and a challenge that I hope to open my eyes even further into the beauty of this thing we call life.

Today marks the beginning of Lent... This is our time to reflect on our lives--ask of our Father as Jesus did in the Garden of Gethsemane, "Father, you have the power to do all things. Take this cup away from me. But let it be as you would have it, not as I.”

Psalms 51:1-2
1 Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash away all my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin.

3.4.11

I honestly CANNOT believe that it is already March. Seriously...where does the time go???

So, the show has wrapped. I'm on to having to actually teach the students lessons in a classroom environment...say what?!? I've spent the majority of my FRIDAY night working on a powerpoint presentation for Monday morning (they warned me you're ALWAYS a teacher). Yeah. My students would call me a dork for working on a Friday night. BUT...I'm being a proactive PLANNER. I want to play with my friends tomorrow night, so I work tonight. Right???

I can't put into words how much I LOVE what I'm doing right now. I feel so incredibly blessed and pray that this career continues. I could not ask for more. Simple as that.

On another note...

Les bon temps rouler! Happy Mardi Gras weekend to my peeps that truly celebrate it. I ordered a king cake or several from da Big Easy...we're having a get together here at the house on Fat Tuesday and my fantastic mama is sending some king cakes my way so I can share them with my guests and precious kiddos at school (that apparently LOVE king cake).

Funny story: "Mrs. Rafferty, I just need to go to Mardi Gras."

My question, why? You're in 9th grade, you have plenty of years to experience Mardi Gras.

Student's answer? "I want King Cake!!!"

Seriously???

Timmy is doing great. He went down South last weekend for a bachelor party. The party actually turned out to be great timing, because he got to partake in the "practice march."



Favorite quote (from a favorite FEMALE family member): " I will never understand why grown men need to practice walking and drinking. I think we need a practice shopping day or something like that. :)"

Yep. Can't wait to head down and partake in the female part of our men's great marching club. We got our stuff down pat...yeah?

Starting Wednesday, I'll begin my 40 days of Thankful. Crazy. I feel like I just did this yesterday.

Thanks for not giving up on me during my blogging hiatus. Before you know it, I'll be posting every day...for at least 40ish days. :))

day 40

day 40: well. I made it. Not necessarily consecutively, but I have posted 40 days of wonderful things in my life that I'm thankful for. Some wonderfuls I truly could not live without and others are simply wonderfuls that just make my life...well, wonderful. My day 40 is the Easter season. What a WONDERFUL, GLORIOUS season it is! It's sometimes difficult to stop and think of all He did for us--but it never fails, we all stop--and worship Him and give thanks and praise. And it's glorious.

I couldn't leave Timbo out of the old school picture sharing...so, there you go. How stinkin' cute is he?!?! Wasn't he just the cutest little man?

day 39

day 39: a light at the end of the tunnel. Oh my. I definitely have taken on too much for my own sanity. I'm soooooo sleepy--yet I'm still on the computer at 20 til 11--and I still have too much to do. Only 25 days away. What? What is that? I don't want to sound like I'm complaining...because I'm not. I am absolutely cherishing every moment of this time of my life. I'm just a little tired--and glad that a trip to a beach is oh so close to me. *exhale*


And just for fun--I included a picture of a baby Shay. This little one for sure wasn't stressed about weddings, work, school, etc. Ahhhh...to be her again. ;)