What's on My iPod

Today's challenge was to put my iPod on shuffle and list the first 10 songs that come up. This could get pretty interesting. Here goes!

Most of the music left on my iPod was put on there during my running days. Many of the songs are ones I may not have ever listened to if I hadn't been in the gym and enjoyed the beat. It's interesting what an iPod can tell you about a person. A couple of these songs are from the Free Music Tuesday on iTunes. Out of all the Tuesdays I've grabbed music I think I've kept about five songs. That makes me sad. I guess I'm just stuck in a rut that way.

Hey Jealousy- Gin Blossoms

Same Old Lang Syne by Dan Fogelberg

Different Breed by Carter's Chord: This is a song I got from the iTunes Free Music Tuesdays. Love it!

Hot N Cold by Katie Perry: This is one of those songs that I would never have listened to had it not been for the gym. I STILL want to hit the ground running every time I hear this song.

Movin On by Katie Arminger: This was another iTunes find. I used to listen to country music quite a bit, but it's been disappointing me lately. It seems to be only about beer and sex. This song, though, gives me hope for the genre.

The Devil Went Down to Georgia by The Charlie Daniel's Band: Who DOESN'T have this on their iPod? Classic! I ran my first 5K on the treadmill thanks to this song.

Centerfield by John Fogerty: Every time I hear this song I want to grab my softball glove and throw the ball around with my dad. My oldest daughter is starting to show an interest in softball, so I think it's time to start working out with her.

What a Feeling by Irene Cara: This is an inspirational song to me. I remember coming home from my last on-campus class when I was getting my teaching degree, playing this song and singing at the top of my lungs. I had done it. What a feeling!

Bubbly by Colbie Caillat

I'm Yours by Jason Mraz

I know you won't have time to listen to all of these songs, but I offer you a challenge. Pick one you haven't heard of and give it a try. See if your toes don't start tapping.

I hope you've enjoyed a glance at my iPod. What songs come up when you hit shuffle?

What I Hope My Future Will Be Like

I'm revisiting an old post for today's Pour Your Heart Out.  Enjoy!

This is another blog prompt, and I think it goes along with several I've written in the past month or so. The bottom line to my future is I want to be happy and healthy. I want my family, especially my children, to be working toward success and productive lives. Other than that, I am ready for a journey! I'm not sure where life will take us. I never have been.

I remember in 8th grade we were supposed to be learning about goals and figuring out our lives in some class or another. We were supposed to write a 5 year plan and a 10 year plan. I got into trouble because I honestly couldn't think that far ahead. In 8th grade I was 12 years old. How in the world was I supposed to imagine what I was going to do when I graduated from high school much less what life would look like when I was 22 years old? To me at that point, 22 was bordering on old.

I also knew that what I REALLY wanted to write wouldn't have been acceptable. I wanted to write that above all my goals were to be a wife and mother. College wasn't a dream of mine; it was a dream of the education system. I'm not sure why we expect ALL kids to go to college, ESPECIALLY immediately out of high school. Sure enough, the first several years in college were really a waste of money on me. I had no idea what I wanted to do. I just wanted to experience life. At 17 years old I'm not sure anyone truly has an idea of what life is all about. How can you make career choices based on such an immature mind? What was even worse for me was that for the first several months of college I was not yet an adult, and I was living with my parents. My new friends would be off running around but I would have to be home by 10 pm. To be honest, I wish I could have held onto that lack of personal accountability (laying the burden on my parents and the city curfew) for quite awhile longer. I proved quickly that I wasn't ready to make those choices as soon as I DID become a legal adult. I don't think this is an uncommon trait for young college students.

It seems I'm always at a cross-roads and can't really tell you where life is going. There was a point, five years ago, that I had things all mapped out. Then disaster struck and my husband lost his job only 11 weeks after we purchased a house. It quickly taught me that while we may have a plan, we need to be prepared for Plan B. And Plan C. How many letters of the alphabet are there again?

Book Tour: A Christmas Journey Home

Welcome "Pump Up Your Book" tour friends and to my readers. Kathi Macias is stopping by my blog today with her book "A Christmas Journey Home." This is a story of two women, difficulties in life, and faith.

Here is the summary from Amazon.com where you can purchase the book: During Isabella Alcantara’s seventh month of pregnancy, her parents and siblings are murdered in gang- and drug-related violence, simply because their home was targeted by mistake. Isabella knows she was spared only because she now lives in a different location, but she knows too that the same thing could easily happen to her and her husband, Francisco. When her grandfather offers to hire a “coyote” to bring them across the border to America, she agrees. But Francisco and Isabella are abandoned by the coyote and left to die. Francisco then valiantly sacrifices himself to get Isabella to safety. Homeless, nearly penniless, pregnant, and alone, Isabella determines to find a way to honor her promise to her beloved husband. Living on one of the smaller spreads along the Arizona border, Miriam Nelson becomes furious with God and turns from her faith when her border patrol agent husband, David, is killed in a skirmish with drug smugglers. Though her mother and young son do their best to woo her back from the anger and bitterness that have overtaken her, they make little headway. Two widows—one driven by fear and a promise, the other by bitterness and revenge—must make their journeys along different pathways, but with the same destination: a barn full of animals that stands waiting for them on Christmas Eve. Forced to face their personal demons, Isabella and Miriam soon discover a common yearning that will bind them together in a most miraculous way.

The author tells a great story. I've never read a Kathi Macias novel before, but I'll be on the lookout for others now. She certainly makes the reader think and explore their own thoughts. Thank you for letting me be part of this tour.

Please see the book trailer at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HeI-m0X2Osw.

My personal review: I have to be honest that I was too angry to finish this book. I felt the illegal immigrants were being turned into heroes for their actions and their faith in God. Living in Arizona in the midst of an immigration "war," I just couldn't feel for these characters. It tainted the whole story for me. I could not read this with an open mind and heart the way it was intended. This is no fault of the author's. It is simply an issue of mine.

Guest Post: Perfect your Feng Shui

Please welcome guest poster Michael Schnippering to Life with Karen. He has graciously offered to write a guest post for my blog and has picked the topic of perfecting your Feng Shui. Interested in learning more about this art? Please be sure to see his website link at the bottom of the post. Have you practiced Feng Shui yourself? I would love to hear about your experiences!

10 Guidelines In Perfecting your Feng Shui

Feng Shui has the capability to transform the energy of any room, if done correctly. This ancient art is based from the Taoist belief that the world is alive and swarming with energy.

There are two types of Feng Shui. Good Feng Shui and bad Feng Shui. Good Feng Shui is said to bring good health and fortune. While the bad Feng Shui will bring bad luck and misfortune.

In order to create good Feng Shui, you should follow ten simple guidelines.

1. 1. This beautiful ancient art starts with balance. Going overboard can be overwhelming and turn into clutter. A perfect example is house plants. Plants give out good energy, but turning a room into a jungle is going too far.

2. 2. The next guideline is to be creative. Making a replica of a Feng Shui example is not essential. Instead of hanging abstract paintings on the wall, a beautiful fish bowl with colorful rocks and a little friend can be just as intriguing.

3. 3. The third thing most do not know about a successful Feng Shui room is to hide the wires and cables. Having the extra clutter can result in bad Feng Shui. If it’s almost impossible to hide the cables, tying them together with cable cords can be just as effective.

4. 4. The next step is to fix that leaking faucet. The dripping of water symbolized all the fortune slowly going down the drain.

5. 5. This fifth guideline may seem a little out there, but it helps inspire. Show off the wealth you have. Keeping a piggy bank out with change in it will bring more wealth. Using clear containers in the kitchen for bulk items shows the health in the household.

6. 6. The sixth guideline is to hide your poverty. Having empty boxes or bottles of ketchup can contradict guideline number five. This would also be interfering with the first guideline of maintaining balance.

7. 7. Guideline number seven is smell. Having a musky smell in a home brings about bas Feng Shui. Using candle warmers and oils can really help a house smell like a home. Also, there are many air fresheners that are great to keep the home smelling fresh.

8. 8. The next thing one must know about obtaining good Fend Shui is the Bagua of the home. The Bagua is a compass that tells one about the eight sections of the home and various areas of a person’s life. Having an object such as a toilet or oven in a wealth area, can be very negative.

9. 9. A home’s entrance is very important when striving for good Feng Shui. This is because the entrance of a home is where the energy’s come in at. Beginning Feng Shui in the main entrance of a home is the best place to start.

10. 10. The tenth and final guideline for mastering this ancient art is animals. Each animal represents a different type of energy. Dragons are a very popular Chinese creature that may bring good Feng Shui into a home.

Feng Shui is a very complex art that takes time to master. Don’t forget, every home is different, so following a Feng Shui example out of a magazine may not work for every home.

BIO: Michael Schnippering is the founder of Feng Shui at Work. He is committed to the true art and science of Feng Shui. Over the years his Feng Shui practice has taken him to various parts of the United States, Germany, France, Spain, Colombia and Argentina.

Not Ready to Make Nice

Warning: This post comes straight from my heart. I do not plan to do too much editing because I want my surface feelings to be shown for once without the feeling I need to censor them. The following comments MAY be offensive to some people. I apologize now if they hurt your feelings, but for once I must share mine.

For the past three months I have been stuck smack in the middle of two different worlds. I am teaching at a school I LOVE with a group of children that are slowly but surely growing on me. On the other hand, I am surrounded by friends and family who are either evangelical Christian or specifically Muslim-hating.

What do these two things have in common? You may remember me mentioning that the school I work in is about 70% Muslim. I will freely admit that this has been a bit of a culture shock and has taken some getting used to. What has been hard for me? The reaction I get when I tell people about my school. I guarantee I wouldn't get the same looks and comments if I told people I work in a Catholic school or even a school whose children are mostly Jewish.

I am saddened by the comments I get because, let's face it, they show that we (Americans) are still afraid of our Muslim population. We have a huge stereotype that blocks us from getting to know families who are different from us. Apparently we still aren't grown up enough to see that "a person's a person, no matter how small" as Horton the elephant tells us in "Horton Hears a Who." Come on, people! Is this really how we want to raise our children?

This tirade was sparked by an email going around that supposedly supports our troops. It talks about how dangerous Muslims are and how they are not to be trusted. It talks about how the 9-11 attackers were those of Muslim faith. Let me ask you this? How many people have been killed in the name of Christianity? How about Jews who kill to please God? Interesting that I'm not supposed to run around fearing Christians or Jews, yet I AM supposed to fear for my life when a Muslim walks into the room.

Here are some terrible things I've heard from people who supposedly care about me. Some are things I've been told directly, others are comments that come in the form of hateful emails that are so "Christian" it makes me sick.

1. My students have no interest in education. Those who do may possibly be learning to build bombs to use against "us." (No matter that they were mostly born right here in the U.S.A. and are as much a citizen as I am.)

2. My students are lazy and unclean. (Sure, my students ARE lazy. They are 5th and 6th graders. I call my own daughters lazy all the time. It's my job as a teacher to break through that natural inclination and get them motivated.)

3. My students are disrespectful. (Yep, I have moments where I need to use my classroom management skills. To be honest, though, my classes are really easy to deal with.)

4. The parents of my students have no respect for me because I am a white female. (This one is absolutely hilarious to me. I have never been treated so well by parents. If anything, they are frustrating because they want their children to get all As and can't figure out how we can get there. This is partial my fault and I will be correcting it this week. Oh, my boss is a Muslim man and is FANTASTIC! I couldn't ask for a more caring administration.)

5. My students think about praying to their God all day and devise plans to attack Americans. (Again, let me point out that my students ARE American. They cried when we did a unit on the 9-11 terrorist attacks. They are excited to learn AMERICAN history. Aren't I the lucky one who gets to teach them that? I am truly blessed that, because many of their parents have immigrated here, I am teaching a subject in which I really am the expert. Let me tell you, the students may take a break in the day to pray, but they have plenty of other interests as well. They LOVE sports.)

I can't tell you how many other ridiculous comments I've heard since I've started working at my school. I've heard them all before and ignored them, but I can no longer do that. So, here's what I really have to say: To all the Christians that judge a group of people before getting to know them- PLEASE get off your high horse. You know NOTHING about the people under the head coverings or beards you are so afraid of. YOU are judgmental and cowardly for the way you are spreading hatred about a group of people you've never even met. Jesus would NOT appreciate you doing this in his name.

How many Christians do stupid things every day? Should we hate all of you because of their terrible mistakes? That guy and his church that picket at soldiers' funerals sure would make me embarrassed to be a Christian if that were the case. Do you remember David Berkowitz, otherwise known as the Son of Sam? He claimed to be a born again Christian. Jefferey Dahmer killed and ate more than 20 young men. He was raised by a Fundamental Christian man who wrote articles for newspapers and magazines about his religion. John Wayne Gacy was Catholic. Yep, I'm pretty convinced that Christians are just as terrifying.

I think, if you are reading this with an open mind, you can see what I'm trying to say here. Stop judging people simply by the fact that they are Muslim. Or Jewish, or Mormon, or Atheist for that matter. You don't know that person at all. You don't know his or her beliefs. You only know what you THINK you understand about the religion. Do you agree with every single concept taught by your church? I know I didn't when I was going. I would hate for someone to judge me on some of the things our pastors taught. Just think about it; that's all I ask.

In the Dixie Chicks song, "I'm Not Ready to Make Nice" the singer is refusing to apologize for comments she made regarding the war in Iraq. She made it quite clear, in an interview, that she disagrees with the war. Whether I agree with her comments or not is not the issue. I DO agree with this lyric in the song, though: "It's a sad, sad story when a mother will teach her daughter that she ought to hate a perfect stranger." THAT is exactly what we do when we forward those messages that hate Muslims or make comments about their lifestyle.

I want to love my students and feel part of their lives just the same way I did with my student teaching class last year. I will be honest; at first it was hard. I didn't understand some of the culture and their way of doing things. It's still hard to live up to the standard some of the parents have set for both their child and for me, the teacher. At least they HAVE standards, though. I would much rather work in an environment that challenges me to reach even higher than in a school where parents didn't care at all. So, PLEASE, I beg of you, friends, let me enjoy my students. Keep your opinions about Muslims to yourself. I happen to think my kids are pretty cool!

My favorite thing about my hometown

Depending on how you define "hometown," this question can be answered a couple different ways. I'll answer both. They are two very different worlds from very different perspectives, really.

I was born in Woodstock, Illinois. It is a small town, just south of Wisconsin. I lived there from the time I was born until just before I started 7th grade. I don't remember a whole lot about Woodstock, except for my baseball days, my family, and a tiny bit of school. What I remember most, though, is how fun it was to walk around town. One could literally walk from one end to the other in about 30 minutes.

As a child, about the age my daughters are now, I had a lot of freedom. That was partially from being in a small town, partially because life was completely different in the early 1980s, and partially because it seems we were always in a large group when all the cousins and our friends got together.

We had "grandmas," older ladies who we adopted and visited often. We would go spend some time with them, and they would give us candy. It was fun to come running home or to my aunt's house to show off some of the crafts we made or our "score" from the ladies. I hope when I'm older I treat the neighborhood children like they are as special as we felt.

After we moved to Arizona the Mesa area became my new hometown. In the space of 30 minutes one can drive through Tempe, Chandler, Mesa, and Gilbert. I've lived in each of those cities except for Tempe. I do love their library, though.

My favorite thing about this area is that there are so many opportunities. My current neighborhood is, by far, the one I enjoy the most. There are four different parks around us. Within five minutes we can be at a playground or a nice place for walking. It is peaceful, yet we are still in a suburban atmosphere. There are shopping centers all around, and so many places are open 24 hours a day I never have to worry about if I need something unexpectedly.

I can't say I would brag about where we live because I think rural living sounds so much neater. Daniel and I have, on several occasions, talked about moving away from here. We just can't do it. Besides, my parents live three miles down the road. That is really my favorite part of my "new hometown."

My favorite thing to EAT

After yesterdays prompt of what I like to cook, this prompt seems particularly fitting. I honestly don't have a favorite food. I'm kind of strange that way. I don't have many favorites, really. I like a lot of things depending on the situation. Some of my favorite foods are all things potato, mushrooms, and now marshmallows (my mom got me going on those). I also LOVE popcorn with all sorts of toppings. I REALLY like ice cream, too- all flavors. I've even come to like chocolate.

My favorite thing to cook

Anyone who knows me well knows that I can't STAND to cook. I would much rather go clean the bathroom while someone else takes over that chore. Fortunately Daniel HAS taken over meal preparation since he is home before I am every day. He is also teaching our daughters how to cook. I couldn't be more grateful for that!

I do have one meal I enjoy cooking, mostly because I love to eat it so much. I make a shredded beef, chicken, or pork sandwich that I could eat almost every night. (I wouldn't, however, want to cook that often, so my family is safe.)

The first thing I do is take a piece of meat (see above) and put it in the crock pot. I cover the meat in BBQ sauce and add plenty of water. The crock pot does the cooking (on low temperature) while I'm at work. When I get home I saute some mushrooms and onions. If I'm feeling particularly energetic I also add some green bell peppers. While the veggies are heating up I take the meat out and let it cool a bit. I shred it, throw some sliced cheese on buns, then add the meat and veggies. Walah! Dinner is served.

One Celebrity I'd Invite to My Birthday Party

I'm really not too into celebrities. I would much rather spend the time and money on my real friends for a birthday party. There is one country singer I would love to meet, though. Collin Raye has had me hanging on to his every song since the release of "Love, Me" in 1991. I had his entire first CD (er.... um... yeah, it was really a cassette tape) memorized and could sing it word for word in my sleep. I think I often did. Sorry Mom!

Collin Raye has always released music that makes me think. Even though "Love, Me" was the one that caught my attention, it was his other songs that really got me to notice this artist. I couldn't decide on just one song to share with you here, so I've included several. Please take a moment to listen to one or two of Collin Raye's songs.

Which is your favorite?

"She's With Me," written for his granddaughter who had an undiagnosed brain disorder.

"The Eleventh Commandment," possibly the most powerful of all of Collin Raye's songs.

"What if Jesus Comes Back Like That?"

"What I Need" from his NEW album, coming out October 25!

Yes, Collin Raye is welcome to come to my birthday party any time. He can even come when it's not my birthday. I wouldn't mind!

One Thing That Changed Me

This is another one of those prompts that is just a little difficult, but I think this is a good way to get to know me. So I'll share.

When I was 18 years old, I thought I knew it all. I was ready to be an adult and go out into the world on my own. I had a creep of a boyfriend to help guide me to that plan. I should have listened to those around me who were wiser. Well, that's what our young adult years are for, I guess. Stupid mistakes and growing up way too fast.

I lived with Bill for close to a year, then I moved back to my parents house. By the time I had moved back in with my parents I didn't know how to do anything alone anymore. I was always with friends or just hanging out in my bedroom. I didn't go out to get a coffee by myself, I didn't stop at a fast food restaurant alone, I just always had to BE with someone. I think I had become afraid of the world for one reason or another.

One person I hung around with more than any other was Kevin. When we first met at Bill's apartment, we realized we had known each other in the past. In junior high school we had met. Both of us were a little on the reserved side; neither of us had a ton of friends. Kevin and I never became close back when we were 12 years old, but we sure did after Bill and I broke up. No, we didn't date. In fact, I was dating Kevin's older brother. Kevin was one friend I can honestly say I loved like crazy but had no romantic interest in.

Kevin and I would drive around listening to music, arguing about country vs. classic rock. We would sit at the park just to watch the birds and listen to the sounds around us. Kevin would play his guitar for me while we sat around his apartment on the floor because the guys didn't have any furniture yet. It was a peaceful existence. Hanging out with Kevin was like spending the day with my brother. We could sit for long periods of time not saying a word to each other but sharing the same space. I would be reading a book; Kevin writing his songs. The only other person I have ever felt so comfortable with is Daniel.

To make a very long story short, Kevin was killed when we were 19 years old by another friend of ours. The brother who I was dating and I walked in to their apartment to find the two boys dead, and it was a very traumatic experience. I won't go into details here, but life changed that day and it changed dramatically.

My dad allowed me to sit on the couch and mope for two weeks. One day he came in and told me I have to get up and GO somewhere, anywhere. He didn't care if I went to the park to sit on the swings or if I went for a walk around the block, but I had to get up and start living life. Too many lives had already been taken, mine couldn't be included in that number. I was furious that my dad "didn't understand." Thank goodness he understand all too well that I needed to be pushed to face my fears. I don't remember where I went, but it was the first time I had left my house by myself in a very long time.

Each day I got up and did a little bit more. Rather than falling farther into the emotional hole I was starting to dig for myself I became strong again. Not only did I start to process the death of my best friend, but I started to work through the relationship that had crushed me and left me thinking so poorly of myself. Eventually I was out running around doing all sorts of things on my own. If no one wanted to join me for an activity but it was something I wanted to do I was sure to go anyway.

I will never say that Kevin's death was a good thing, but it did help to change my life. I started to realize that I was worth more than I had been giving myself credit for. I got my first degree in criminal justice, partly because I had so many questions about all that had happened that night. For years if fear held me back it was Kevin's voice telling me to live the life he couldn't that would propel me forward. Until I learned to stand on my own two feet, even in his death Kevin supported me and showed me that I WAS a person worthy of being treated well and going after my dreams.

Crazy Rearranging

I LOVE my kitchen, but the dining room was not being used for what it was supposed to be. It is a big, beautiful room, yet we weren't spending any time in there at all. Part of the problem is that we have outgrown our dining room table. A bigger part of the problem is that our dining room chairs have fallen apart, so we really didn't have anything to sit at the table with.

I came up with the idea of making the dining room a sitting area instead. At least until we figure out the dining room table situation. These pictures really don't do the room justice, but I couldn't seem to get a good angle.

We had an extra TV that Daniel didn't want in our bedroom, so it went into our sitting area. Our video game system went out there, too. That's perfect, because now I can watch TV while the girls are playing the XBox. We put the futon that's been sitting in the garage in the room, and an end table. It's a good thing we don't throw anything away when we pick up something new at a garage sale!

I can really see this room getting used a lot more now. Daniel has actually spent most of his time in there since we've put it together. It's nice to get away from the rest of the group watching TV yet not be completely isolated by hiding in the bedroom. This was a perfect compromise for us, and we just added to the usable square footage of our home!

More Halloween Decorations

Okay, I just couldn't pass these up. They were TOO cute, and on sale at Albertson's for only $2.50 for the pack of two. These are HUGE window decorations, and they can be used year after year. I LOVE having a place to decorate and play with!

This one, the witch, is in the window that looks out to the front yard.

The skeleton is also in the kitchen, but he looks out to the side. It's perfect, because this is also the sidewalk leading to the front door.

A Moment I Felt Most Satisfied With My Life

I have decided to stop trying to keep track of the prompts and challenges I'm participating in and just write about them. I hope this is not confusing to anyone, and I hope you still enjoy the posts. I do like having a prompt. I get a lot more ideas this way than I would have otherwise.

The day I got my teaching certificate was a moment in time I wish I could freeze. On the morning of November 18, 2010 I took my first day away from school since the school year had begun. Up until then I had either been student teaching or volunteering in a classroom as a teacher's aide essentially. That morning, however, I was going to get the paperwork I needed from Ottawa University and then to the Arizona Department of Education.

By 9:00 AM I had my teaching certificate in my hand. I was slightly saddened at how anti-climatic it was to get that piece of paper. I gave the man at the counter money, he looked over my paperwork from Ottawa and checked some test scores in the computer, then printed a really plain looking certificate and passed it through the bullet-proof glass to my waiting hands. There wasn't even a "congratulations" or a smile. I don't know why I had been expecting balloons and confetti to fall from the ceiling, but I really had been hoping for more.

By 10:00 I was standing back at the school where I had done my student teaching, filling out paperwork to become an official employee. I was scheduled for my first substitute teaching job the next day. Between then and Christmas I was once again either in a classroom as a sub or volunteering full time. I didn't miss another day.

That night my husband and daughters insisted we go out to eat. The waiter (who also happened to be the manager) had a wife who had also recently gotten her teaching certificate. He gave us free desserts to celebrate the occasion. The girls behaved excellently at the restaurant, and we all had a pleasant conversation. We talked about what our future looked like and how excited we all were that I was done with school and ready to take on the world.

I don't think there was a time in my life that could have been more perfect. On that day the world was truly mine to do whatever I wanted. I had confidence that I would be teaching in my dream job the next school year, and I was so proud of my family. We all worked out together on a regular basis, and we worked as a team to get the household chores done because for the first time ever both Daniel and I worked outside of the home. Life was more than just satisfying at that moment- it was a dream come true.

Today I Am Thankful For...

Today I am thankful for the health I DO have. I have been downplaying it a lot lately, but Daniel has caught on to the fact that I am not doing as well as I would like. I've been coming home from work with all sorts of aches and pains, and some of my very first symptoms that I started out with around this time last year are back.

I am thankful for my family who understands that I may not be able to do too much after working. Heck, some days I may not be able to do much BEFORE working. I won't give up teaching, though, because it gives me a sense of purpose. Those four months I spent sitting in my living room when I first got sick were like torture. I don't ever want to go through that again.

Today I am thankful that even though I may not feel 100% myself I have a job that allows me to be animated when I feel it and more calm when I'm just not wanting to be up and around. I couldn't imagine being a landscaper like my husband right now. I truly wouldn't be able to work if I had to exert that much energy and strength all the time.

On Wednesday I was reaching for a book and felt and heard a loud popping sound in my shoulder. It's been hard to move my arm since then, and it hurts. Unfortunately I have been living with this type of experience for about a year now, but there is no real reason for it. I don't have any specific injury, and no one knows why this type of thing happens for me. In a couple of days my arm will feel better. I'm sure that will be just in time for something new to develop.

Today I am grateful that my friends and family allow me to be grouchy when I need to be.

Prompts: Day 10

My first love

I am having a tough time with these prompts. I guess I should have looked at them more closely before taking the plunge, or maybe as I sit to write I'm just realizing there are some things better left alone.

Here is what I am willing to share. The first boy I truly loved was named Matt. We met on my first day of 7th grade, and each of us was different from the crowd in our own ways. I "went out with" or dated Matt off and on up until the day I started getting serious with my first husband. When I told Matt, at age 22, that I was going to marry Brian, he asked me to marry him. Right then and there he was ready to get a marriage license. When I said no, a friendship that spanned half my life was ended.

30 Day Challenge: Day 7

My zodiac sign. Does it fit my personality?

Although I think many people have traits from each zodiac sign, I do like to see where we each fit in. I am not 100% true to my sign, but the big points are definitely accurate. I am a Libra. The symbol is the scales.

Balance is important to Libras above all else. That definitely fits me. If life starts getting off course in one area or another I am very upset until I figure out how to balance it all again.

Libras look for peace and harmony, and though I don't think this necessarily fits me completely, I do understand this. If people are upset around me I get very nervous. If I have an argument with someone else, I can't let it go until I know we are "ok" again. On the other hand, once we've gone too far away from peace, I don't tend to want to be around that person ever again. I definitely cut ties with those who do not make me feel peaceful.

I read that Libras crave marriage and partnership. Very true here. Ever since I was a little girl I knew that I wanted to be married and have the type of relationship my parents do. On the other hand, Libras can be fickle. I "get" this, too. I often sit on the fence on a decision. I can be seen as two-faced because I can understand both sides easily. It makes it really hard to decide right from wrong in a debate sometimes because I think both sides have excellent points.

The site I read also says Libras are strong willed. That is definitely me. I want what I want, and that has served me well in life. The key is knowing when to push and when to sit back and let things happen. I'm actually dealing with that at work right now. I want a full time position very badly. Do I go for one that is posted within the company or hang out where I am because I LOVE my school and administration? I decided I want to stay with the principal I have now, so I am going to hang tight. I hope that's the right decision. There goes that fickle nature again!

Libras tend to give in to keep the peace. This is true for all of my relationships EXCEPT my parents and my husband. It must be because I feel safe with them; I really can't figure out another reason. I will fight to the end of the world with my husband if I think I'm right. Oh wait, as I read further down it says Libras can be unyielding when it comes to principals. Yeah, Daniel is always telling me that I see life based on principals rather than specific situations. I'm working on this- especially in my classroom.

I got my information, by the way, from The Libra Page. I can't believe how each zodiac sign is broken down into so many different categories. Check it out when you have a chance. Each of the signs is listed across the top of the page.

Well, that's me in a nutshell. This was a lot of fun, but I don't take it too seriously. There are some bizarre similarities in my mom and my husband, though, who are both Scorpios. Maybe there is something to the zodiac, after all. Or maybe they are both just weird in the same ways!

Prompts: Day 9

A picture from today

What a perfect time to show off our new home!

Our new home is in Gilbert, Arizona. Look at how large that window is! That is one of two kitchen windows, making the front of our house explode with light in the morning. The other window is around the corner. Between that one and the front door is another, smaller window, that is above the sink. I have all the natural light I've ever dreamed of. I love sitting at my dining room table and watching the neighborhood.

For years the girls and I have wanted to get yard decorations, but Daniel (correctly) kept telling us that it was a waste of money because they would just get destroyed or stolen. Last year our decorated pumpkins (using a Mr. Potato Head kit) had many pieces stolen. This year I can comfortably decorate. Each holiday I'm going to add one piece to my collection. This year I found this cool yard cat.

It's hard to see, but there really is a purple Lantana planted here. We went in search of a bush for the backyard and found this little guy for only $2.50. I had to try it! I love lantana, and the purple ones aren't seen around here too often. I hope it survives, though my landscaper husband did say he has had a harder time keeping them alive compared to the other colors.

Daniel has become obsessed with urban birds after seeing a special on TV about crows and how smart they are. I told him not to spend money on a bird feeder, so he build this out of a post and a piece of board he found in the discount bin. Total cost $4. Now we just need to buy some bird seed so he'll quit throwing all my bread out there.

This was the plant we were going to Home Depot to find. Honeysuckle attracts Humming Birds, so we wanted to get one planted before it gets too cold outside. We're going to be at 103 degrees tomorrow, so this guy should do well.

When we rented this home from my in-laws they said to make it our own. I am so thankful for that, because we really do get to enjoy our living space. Slowly but surely we are making little improvements that make this house reflect our personalities. That is one benefit over the townhouse. There every unit looked the same. Though we do have HOA rules here, they offer more flexibility. I love these pictures! I hope you enjoyed them, too.

Why I Love My House

For the first time since we moved in a month ago I really spent some time alone in our home. Now, this is a new house in many ways, but it's also a familiar place. We used to live here before we moved into our townhouse. By a stroke of luck, it was available again when we were ready to move out of the townhouse. Part of why I love this house has a lot to do with the memories we built here. Coming back to a residence five years after leaving sure does dig up some interesting thoughts.

I remember walking Andrea to her first day of Kindergarten from this place. I remember taking Amber to the Rec Center and dropping her off for preschool classes. I would come home and sit on the back porch drinking a cup of coffee and enjoying an hour by myself and for myself, both girls in "school." Now they come home from 3rd and 5th grade, wanting to tell me all about their days. We have spent hours apart from each other, and I am just as excited to see them and share my day.

I remember many days waiting to hear the garage door opening, signaling to me that Daniel was home from a long day of work. It's amazing how sounds become part of our memories. I heard that door opening as I was sitting in our bedroom yesterday, and I got just as excited as I used to. Never mind that I had just seen Daniel a couple hours before. That door tells my brain that we have given our part to the outside world; now it's time for us to be a family.

When I opened all the windows to let in the very welcome fresh air, I remembered the times we used to foster dogs. At one time we had six in this house from three different rescue groups. By the time we were done fostering, we had 97 dogs come through, some for just an overnight stay, some for close to a year. My favorites will forever be Cody and Lexie. They were Golden Retrievers, and I can definitely see why this is my mom's favorite breed. They were amazing dogs. Yesterday I reflected on the time Cody jumped out of the window in the living room because I thought it would be safe to have the windows open to bring in the cool air while I walked Andrea to school. There were screens on the window, so I didn't think twice; I would only be gone about 10 minutes. Cody, however, decided he wanted to walk to school, too, and took advantage of the window being open. I cried and cried, walking up and down the streets calling his name. When he found us he ran right past and into the open garage. Cody had ALMOST made it to school, but he went straight at one point where he was supposed to turn. I learned a lot about the loyalty of pets that day. We took Cody with when we went to pick Andrea up from school.

Sitting with the windows open in the early afternoon I could hear the children playing outside during recess. Our house is very close to the school, and some days I used to be able to hear the morning announcements and the Pledge of Allegiance. It's comforting to know that even though my children are away from my care they are literally still within hearing range. Okay, that's a bit of an exaggeration; I can hear the collective voices of the students but would not be able to hear a single child. Regardless, being able to share in the morning and recess activities from a distance is really cool. I kind of miss that now that I leave for work before their school day starts.

I heard birds chirping, lawn mowers cutting grass, and the sounds of the city all around me as I sat clicking away on the computer keys. I'm sure some of those same noises happened in the townhouse, but the dogs barking constantly and the sounds of police helicopters overshadow the pleasantness. It was funny that I was thinking about the birds yesterday. Daniel came home from work and decided to put some bread out for them. He wants a bird feeder now. That will definitely be something we will get eventually. Our bedroom window looks right out into the backyard. So does our living room patio door. We would, for sure, be able to enjoy seeing what the feeder attracts. I would also like a humming bird feeder in the front yard as I have seen some of those birds flying around at the neighbor's house.

My favorite part of the house is the natural light. There are huge windows in every room of the house, so there is not a place anywhere that is dark and cave-like. I can open the windows and sit watching the street out front. I can lay on my bed and see what's going on in the backyard. It just feels bright and cheery. At night, as the sun is going down and the lights come on, it feels natural. It is time for our bodies to slow down and relax. The world is telling us so.

I can honestly say that moving back to this house felt like coming home. I feel this is a great fit for our family. It is large enough that we are not constantly on top of each other. It's small enough, though, that I don't feel completely isolated if I'm working on lesson planning at the kitchen table while the rest of the family hangs out in the living room. Today we bought a plant for the backyard and one for the front. It looks like we plan to stay for awhile.

30 Day Challenge: Day 6

30 Interesting Facts About Me

1. I was born on October 2, 1974 at 10:51 PM.

2. I was born in Woodstock, IL and moved to Chandler, AZ just before I turned 11 years old.

3. I played baseball (not softball) from the time I was 10 until the boys got too big and strong for me to keep up with.

4. I had more injuries playing ball than any other time in my life, and I still laugh about many of them.

5. The funniest injury was when my finger got crushed between the baseball bat and the ball in a fast pitch batting cage. I rode to the hospital with my finger stuck in my mom's soda cup filled with ice in order to keep the swelling down.

6. The scariest injury was when I couldn't see after getting the dust from the baseball diamond in my eye. My brother, however, thought it was pretty funny and kept holding up fingers for me to count even though I literally could not even see that he was there.

7. When I was 16-18 years old I was in 4 car accidents. None of them were my fault.

8. I participated in several beauty pageants when I was in high school. I got in the top 10 in one.

9. I graduated from high school in May 1992 at 17 years old.

10. My original declared major in college was elementary education. I soon discovered I wasn't ready for college and teaching as a young adult.

11. I moved out of my parents' house the first time 4 days after I turned 18. Fortunately they let me move back in after I figured out I wasn't ready to be an adult.

12. My best friend and another one of my friends were victims of murder/suicide when I was 19-years-old.

13. I got my Associate's degree in Criminal Justice, partly because of the experience I had when I found my best friend after he had been killed.

14. I got married to my first husband at age 22 in a size 3 wedding dress. He later told me I was getting too fat so he didn't want to have anything to do with me. I was diagnosed with a thyroid disorder 3 months later.

15. My first husband and I divorced after 2.5 years of marriage.

16. My favorite car of my "youth" was my Hyundai Tiburon. I was convinced I was going to get my first speeding ticket in that car, but I didn't.

17. I got married to Daniel when I was 25.

18. Daniel and I have moved 9 times in the 12 years we've been together. I'm done now!

19. My favorite colors are browns and greens.

20. My favorite flavor of just about anything is pumpkin. I found a recipe for pumpkin lasagna that I'm going to try this weekend.

21. I gave birth to my first daughter when I was 26-years-old.

22. Our second daughter came along when I was 28.

23. I was inspired to go back to college by volunteering in Andrea's 1st grade classroom and then running into my junior high science teacher, all at the right moments.

24. I returned to college when I was 33-years-old, had 2 small children, a husband, and helped run Daniel's business. I learned that I can juggle many things at once and keep going.

25. At age 36 I got my Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education.

26. I graduated from Ottawa University.

27. I got my first teaching job (this year) at a charter school in Chandler, Arizona. I LOVE the people I work with!

28. I hate cooking, so I am extremely excited that Daniel enjoys taking care of the dishes, cooking, and laundry when I'm working.

29. I don't like to travel.

30. I love teaching Social Studies, even though my content area of "expertise" is Language Arts. I miss teaching reading and writing, though, so I'm open to any offer of full time work for next year at the school I'm with now.

Well, I don't know if any of those facts were interesting, but there they are. I hope you learned something new about me today!

30 Day Challenge: Day 5

A time I thought about ending my own life

Well isn't this a nice dark challenge prompt? I will be honest and tell you right up front that I am not going to answer this question. I have found the place where I draw the line in blogging. This question is way too personal for details. That's really all I have to say on this subject. Next!

Teaching Conference

I went to my first teaching conference Thursday through Saturday of last week. I will admit that I was not thrilled about going, but I'm glad I did. I live in Arizona, and the conference was in California. I don't like to travel, so that was making me anxious. We got there and back with no problems, though. I rode there with a co-worker but took the bus home. That's a long story that I won't get into. I will tell you, though, that I'll be on the bus next year. That was a great ride with a couple of movies and a toilet on board! Travel buses sure are a lot different than the last school bus I was on.

The food was terrific at the conference, except for breakfast. The breakfast was a continental meal in the hotel lobby. I definitely could have went for some protein in the morning, but I was too cheap to go to the attached restaurant and buy something. Lunch and dinner more than filled me and was delicious, so having a muffin and/ or danish in the morning to tide me over really wasn't a problem.

So... did I learn anything? I sure did! Funny, I learned more about myself and relationships than I did in the class sessions, but I don't think that is a problem. We don't always come away from experiences with the planned lesson. Sometimes life has a different plan in mind.

As I mentioned, I rode to the conference with another teacher. Having never been to something like this I was a little nervous and stuck close by. Unfortunately her idea of a good time and mine didn't exactly match, so I had to find a way to do activities that were interesting to me. When we woke up on the second day I was ready to take off on my own. I went to the break-out sessions that were relevant and interesting to me instead of joining the group in the collective decision. I think I got a lot more out of the conference that way than many of my fellow teachers did. And, I wasn't alone anywhere I went! If one of the teachers from my school wasn't in a particular session I would simply strike up a conversation with the person sitting next to me. I met lots of people from sister schools and learned a lot about our organization this way.

I can't wait to try some of the classroom management techniques I learned and some of the cooperative learning games I picked up. I am now more confident about the interactions I have and will have with parents who are of a different culture than that which I am familiar. Overall I do believe the conference has helped me to become a better teacher. At the very least I am charged up and ready to go. Right after I finish enjoying this week long Fall Break!

30 Day Challenge: Day 4

My Views on Religion

For me, religion is an "to each his own" thing. I hang out with people of all different religions, and I enjoy learning from each one. What everyone has in common is a desire to have a positive life doing what he or she thinks is right. It's really that simple for me.

I have recently met a lot of people who are from the Muslim faith. The teachers, administrators, and students at the school I work are mostly of this religion. It was intimidating at first because I was actually in the minority, which is something I haven't experienced too many times in life. The people are some of the most supportive I've ever met. I am looking forward to learning more about their religion and culture.

For awhile I was a practicing Christian, but I no longer put myself in that group. Especially after having the experiences of the last couple of months, I can't say I believe one religion to be completely right. I believe there is something out there bigger than me, but I can't define that. For now I will focus on bringing light into the lives of those around me. In this way, we are all alike anyway, so it works.

30 Day Challenge: Day 3

My views on drugs and alcohol

As I get older I see less and less point in any drugs or alcohol- except for coffee. Coffee has become my friend. My day just doesn't seem to be the same without that morning jolt. It's also sweet treat for me since I love my flavored creamers. Fall is great because of all the pumpkin flavors, then comes winter with the peppermint. Yum!

Drugs and alcohol just don't make sense to me in my old age. I like to be in control, and I don't understand why anyone wants to make a fool of themselves. Think Charlie Sheen. Eeekkk! I do have an occasional drink with a friend, but one is more than enough anymore.

Prompts: Day 8

The characteristics of a good friend

I have to be honest; I don't really have a list of characteristics of a good friend. Different people serve different needs in our lives. Some friends are ones that you can talk to every day and always have something to say. Other friends are people who you don't need to talk to often but who you know will always be there. A good friend is one who you are comfortable with and who you can count on. Outside of that, it doesn't really matter what other characteristics they have. Each person is different.