Highs and lows all in a day

According to the calendar, tomorrow is full moon. I'm not surprised. Last evening I walked into the bathroom to get Destiny's toothbrush ready for her and I was met with this amazing sight - the moon was peering right through the skylight! Pretty cool!

And now for my weekly "green report". There's a hint of green out there today, an improvement over my picture from last Saturday. We're having 80 degree-plus weather again today, so those trees are finally getting the hint.

My little first-year daffodils have shriveled up and died, but the tulips have shot up and opened in the past few days. I was hoping there would be more red ones, but I like them anyway. We had bought a bag of variety daffodil and tulip bulbs last fall, so I didn't know what to expect.

Here are "my kids" who sang at the funeral this morning - Brandon Kreider, now a senior at Manheim Central High School, Heather Harley, a freshman at Liberty University, Hillary Snavely, a freshman at Delaware State, and Matt Garber, a freshman at Lebanon Valley College. I LOVE these kids - had them ever since kindergarten. Not to mention, they sound AMAZING!!

The funeral itself was very, very emotional. Depression and mental illness are so painful and ruthless. I have walked through some deep waters in the past, supporting a loved one through depression, so there were times this morning when I felt like I needed to walk out and find a place to sob and wail. Bill's father-in-law, a pastor in their church, has apparently been there every step of the way through the darkness Bill dealt with this past year. He shared this morning, and at times was forcing back his sobs. Right after that they played "Taps" and performed the military ritual of folding the American flag and presenting it to Dominique (Bill had served in the Gulf War), and right after that my Heather had to get up and sing the song Breathe. I don't know how she pulled herself together for that, but she did. At the end of the service the four kids sang the song Great Is He, a favorite from their days on my school worship team. I wish I could have sat beside Chris (Bill's son) during that song. He had also been on the worship team back then.

Now I must get busy. Tomorrow will be a big day with my current worship team. We are meeting at 6:45 AM(!!) to travel to a church in Juniata County, about an hour-and-a-half away.

Not a regular day!

This was not a regular day. Sometime around 11 AM the electricity went off at school. With it went our entire phone system and water, including the ability to flush toilets. We were told by the electric company that it may be 2:30 till we get electric service returned. Thus started the process of using all the available cell phones to call the parents, informing them that we would dismiss right after lunch. Of course, before lunch was finished the electricity came back on. However, there was no turning back at that point. So I ended up having a much more relaxing Friday afternoon than normal.

There was an additional blessing in the early dismissal for me. My classroom window air conditioner has not been lifted to its perch yet. This was by far the warmest day we've had so far this spring - probably in the 80's. I dreaded what my room would feel like this afternoon during Intermediate Chorus (grades 3, 4, and 5.) There is black pavement right outside my windows and it becomes like a furnace on hot days. So thankfully we did not have to endure that today.

Later this afternoon I went to Reading for Destiny. As it turned out I wouldn't have had to - Enid had brought her to Lancaster, but hadn't called me. With the crazy gas prices I could be quite irritated, but I'm not. I needed that time in the car with the Lord and my music. Good, anointed worship music just washes over me like rain, and the tears I shed bring release.

I will end this post with a really cute story. Last spring Intermediate Chorus did a musical about the story of Joseph. One of the songs after the scene with Potiphar's wife was a reggae-sounding one called Flee Temptation. We used home-made shakers (water bottles partly filled with colorful chocolate-coated sunflower seeds.) The chorus of the song says, "You've got to flee temptation, you've got to flee temptation, You've got to flee temptation, don't stay, just run away!" This spring I am using that song with Primary Chorus. This morning when first grade was in my classroom and we were planning to do that song next, I started passing out the shakers. Of course, busy little people can't wait to get their hands on those things, so like I always do, I instructed them to let the shakers sit in front of them until the intro music started. The kids were sitting on the risers and I was placing two shakers in front of each child. When I got to little Josiah, who is THE most comical kid I've ever met, he looked at his two shakers sitting in front of him and said, "I'm tempted to touch them. I have to run away." And he went running off the risers and around the room. Oh my word! I just laughed and laughed and laughed. I think he understands the message of that song!

Regular days

I'm just having regular days at school, nothing really to write about. Lots of work to do, lots of things to practice, and lots of thoughts to ponder. Just wanted to say I'm here!!

Facing the grief

Today at school my co-worker Wendy Harley and I cried together several times as we tried to come to grips with the reality of the suicide I mentioned in my previous post. Our hearts were absolutely wrenched as we tried to imagine what our friend Dominique and her children are experiencing. This evening we decided to be brave and go visit the family. We are so very glad we did. There were others there too, including our friend Janice whose children had also come to our school when Wendy's and Dominique's children did. Dominque's son Chris, Wendy's daughter Heather, and Janice's son Matt were all in my worship team together. What a precious time we had this evening. Sometimes we cried, sometimes we laughed. We put our cell phones into action and organized a group of these kids to come home from their respective colleges to sing a favorite song from the past at the funeral on Saturday.

At a time when there seem to be no answers, we did experience some moments of joy and the sense of what it is to be UTTERLY dependent upon the Lord. As they come to your minds over the next days and weeks, please pray for Dominique Black and her four children, Chris, Jennifer, Daniel, and James.

This morning on my way to school, as I was asking the Lord how to handle the heaviness in my heart, I remembered a song. Here are the lyrics:

I Will Sing by Don Moen

Lord, You seem so far away,
A million miles or more, it feels today.
And though I haven't lost my faith,
I must confess right now
That it's hard for me to pray.
But I don't know what to say,
And I don't know where to start,
But as You give the grace,
With all that's in my heart,

I will sing! I will praise!
Even in the darkest hour,
Through the sorrow and the pain,
I will sing! I will praise!
Lift my hands to honor You,
Because Your word is true,
I will sing!

Lancaster Symphony Orchestra

Today, as I do each year, I took my fourth grade class to the Lancaster Symphony Orchestra's concert for children. In preparation for this event we study the families of the orchestra and the instruments in each family. (The fourth grade teacher is in the middle of the back row - barely taller than her kids!!)

The event used to be held in the Fulton Opera House, which added so much "class" to the atmosphere. Now, however, it is held in the Good Shepherd Chapel at Lancaster Bible College.

Each year they feature the winner of their youth talent contest. This year's winner was 16-year-old Nicole Sauder. She did an AMAZING Mozart piece.

The biggest thrill of the concert was guest trumpet soloist Rodney Mack playing a most difficult piece - Carnival of Venice. Absolutely incredible!!

I wish such a delightful concert were the only thing on my mind tonight. But my heart feels heavy and troubled. It seems like there are too many people facing deep sorrow, and I hardly know how to comprehend it or what to do with it. In just one week's time I know of three families experiencing tragedy.

In one family the grandmother (a few years older than myself) just died from pancreatic cancer, her husband already had died of cancer several years ago, and her daugher, the mother of three school-age children, is in a coma from brain cancer. (Update: the daughter died the day after I wrote this post.)

Another family lost their grandfather just five days after he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, then just a few days after the funeral, a two-year-old grandson was killed in a freak farm accident. The little boy's funeral was one week after the grandfather's.

And just today I learned that the father of some of my former students commited suicide on Friday after an intense year of severe depression. He leaves behind him a wife and four children ranging in age from 19 to 7.

I know this is a dreadfully low point on which to leave this post. But these are real families suffering real sorrow. They can't just click the mouse and get away from it.

GOD!!!!! As we pray, please miraculously carry them through these dark days.

This morning my school worship team had a week off and I could be at our own church. Oh, the teasing I get when I return! One of the elders said, "Jean! What are you doing here?" My friend Kati looked at me and said, "Let's see, do I know you from somewhere?" Our pastor said, "We'll be led in worship by our guest pianist..." My word, I was only away two weeks! But it feels good to be loved and missed. We even had fellowship meal today. I sure know how to plan my schedule, don't I?!! Now I'll be "on the road" with the school team for the next three Sundays.

On Friday night Ray and Thyda made a late trip to PA, because Thyda's great grandmother was nearing death. Thyda wanted to see her before she was gone. Unfortunately, their trip took longer due to the stormy weather, and she died just a short while before Ray and Thyda and her parents got there. It's the first family death Thyda has experienced, and this great grandmother was an important part of Thyda's life, so it's really hard for her. They spent yesterday at her parents and came here for a while this afternoon before heading back to Virginia Beach. We hadn't seen her since New Years. So in the course of the afternoon we cried together and laughed together. You can't be around Ray and stay sad for long. Boy, I'm getting kind of used to seeing him every week or two lately!!

Here they were trying the famous Titanic pose!

Destiny is having fun with her new V-tech video game that Frank got for her. As much as I'm not crazy about video games, I must admit it's quite educational. I just have to limit the amount of time she's on it. I don't want her to lose her ability to play and use her amazing imagination.

And a word about the weather - Brrrr! It's in the 50's today, and I think it's going to stay in the 40's tomorrow. I was thinking when I looked at the "Titanic'' picture above, that maybe I should take my dangling snowflakes down!! I'm so used to them being there that I don't even notice them. Maybe if I got rid of them our spring weather would come and stay!

Green leaves, please!

I was wrong last night about those thunderstorms ushering in cooler temps. Not yet. We are having another gorgeous day. Right now my indoor/outdoor thermometer shows 80 degrees on both! But where are the leaves???? I keep looking and looking every day at those trees. Does this picture look like 80 degrees?? Surely three days in a row like we've had has to get something awake in those branches, wouldn't you think? I'll post a picture again as soon as I finally see some green out there!

Annual work banquet

This was another full Friday at school, but nothing spectacular to write about. This evening we went to the infamous Shady Maple for Dick's work banquet.

We sat at a table of people that we did not know well. As our conversation progressed I discovered that one of the women at the table had become a foster child at the age of 13. We had such an interesting conversation. I really enjoyed getting to know her. Later they had as entertainment a two-man drama team. They were really, really good - outragiously funny, able to talk with different accents, yet thought provoking too. I thoroughly enjoyed them.

When the banquet was over we discovered it had begun to rain. We drove to Reading to pick up Destiny. All the way home we were in and out of thunder storms. I guess this exhilirating Spring weather we've had the past two days is about to be pushed away by cooler temps. Waaahhh.

Happy Birthday, Bjorn!

We had a GORGEOUS day in PA!! It smelled so good outside our house, just a good, springy, earthy smell. And the birds were singing so beautifully. My heart felt like bursting with joy.

By now it is April 11th in Sweden, even though it's still the 10th here. I doubt if Bjorn checks his Grandma's blog before he goes to school, but just in case he does, I want him to know that I am remembering that he is turning 12 (almost a teenager!!) today. How time flies. When he was a baby Miki and the children came home for a month and I enjoyed baby Bjorn so very, very much. We all did.

Bjorn, I hope you have a really special day, because you are a really special guy! We love you! You'll get your snail mail card and gift later (hopefully not MUCH later like the ones Grandpa delivered to your house in March!)

The good, the fun, and the funny

I just heard that my brother-in-law Elvin had a much better day today - sitting up, walking a bit, some tubes removed, and moving out of intensive care. Thank you, Lord!

Yesterday one of the kindergarten teachers took her little ones outside for a project. They were going to "splatter paint" a little table and chair set to sell at our school's benefit auction later this month. She had them decked out in her husband's old work shirts, his old sox pulled over their shoes, and shower caps on their heads. If that didn't make quite a picture as they walked out across the parking lot! Of course I didn't have my camera, but I grabbed my cell phone and headed out for a picture. They were just too cute!

I just realized that I haven't posted a picture of Sophie for a while. I can't let Lisa have all the fun, can I? So here's one she posted lately that I just love. Sophie was riding a pony at a birthday party. Does she look delighted, or what?? I can just about hear her giggling all they way up here in PA!

And here's a joke: Question: How can you tell that you are a preschool teacher? Answer: When you reach into your pocket to get your chapstick for your dry lips, and after applying it, wonder why it tastes and feels so strange. You look and discover that you have just applied Elmer's Glue Stick to your dry lips!! (This is not a joke, it's a true story. Just ask Wendy Harley, our Pre-K teacher!!)

Six bypasses!

All day yesterday my mind was thinking about my brother-in-law's surgery. After school I found out that he had been third on his surgeon's schedule, and since the first one took longer than expected, Elvin's got postponed until today. When Elvin's daughter Lori, who lives in Michigan, realized that, she made a quick decision to drive to Lancaster. She left home at 4:00 yesterday afternoon and arrived in Lancaster at 1:00 AM! What a brave girl she is. Elvin's son Scott is also here from California. He had been at a conference in Washington DC last week and has stayed over. And of course Pauline has been constantly by his side since he was hospitalized for the cath last Wednesday.

So Elvin's surgery started at 8:00 AM this morning and lasted until 2:00 this afternoon. They did SIX bypasses! Just unbelieveable after the extremely healthy lifestyle Elvin has been living. I guess heredity is a dreadfully strong force.

This evening my sister Mary Ellen and I went to the hospital. We did not see Elvin. He's in the intensive care unit and in very, very much pain. Mary Ellen and I talked for a while with Scott and Lori in the waiting room.

Scott and Lori Peifer - beautiful brother and sister.

Later when they were asked to leave Elvin's room for a little while we all ate together in the cafeteria. Pictured left to right - Scott, Mary Ellen, Pauline, and Lori.

Lori was telling us some funny stories from her wedding in December. Obviously her name was Lori Peifer originally. When she got married in 1988 she became Lori Harris. (Sadly, that marriage ended in a very painful divorce.) This past December she got married to Jim PEIFER!! (Don't worry - they're not related!) However, at their wedding there were so many people involved with the last name Peifer that the ushers became confused and quit trying to seat people on any particular side! She even said that when they bought their marriage license the clerk thought they must be getting remarried when he saw she had previously been Lori Peifer. Too funny!

Mary Ellen and I enjoyed this view of Lancaster City from the sixth floor of the hospital. I live just on the other side of those hills on the horizon!

Please pray for Elvin if he comes to your mind. He's in for some rough days of recovery. Lori will be driving back to Michigan tomorrow and Scott will fly home on Thurday.

Fifteen random things

Last week Tonja tagged me. I am supposed to list 15 random things about myself that you readers may or may not already know. Hmmm. Back in November I posted seven weird things when I was tagged, but I guess I'll try to come up with fifteen more. So here goes....

1. I am absolutely unable to function without a list. And just like I said last week, and like Tonja admitted to doing as well, the best part of having a list is crossing things off. So if I accomplish something, then realize I hadn't even put it on my list, I write it down and then cross it off! In my lesson plan book at school I write a long list at the beginning of each week in addition to the lesson plans. Here at home I have a list for the week, and on Saturdays another one. I guess I'm a visual person, because I just can't think without a list.

2. I have a very detailed memory of my life as far back as age two. In my mind I have a visual picture of each decade and I can come up with a month and year for almost anything you may want to know about my life.

3. I can easily go to bed with dishes in the sink. It doesn't bother me one bit unless someone is coming.

4. I never dated anyone but Dick. I was 15 when we started "liking" each other. One time we broke up for a few weeks because my parents said we had to, but I made it so obvious that I was in mourning that no one would have dared to ask me out during that time.

5. When my sisters Doris, Barb, and Betty and I would play "house" as children, I always had to be the dad or the preacher because I was the oldest of the four. I got so tired of it.

6. When I was a junior in high school I was using an eyelash curler one morning and my hand slipped. I ripped out ALL my upper eyelashes. I looked like a ghost. Thank goodness I wore glasses. I also made use of a LOT of eye liner. Eventually they grew back.

7. When Dick and I got married on October 2, 1971 it was my parents AND his parents wedding anniversaries!

8. From 1971 to 1987 Dick and I were in a Christian "band" that gave programs in churches, first the Witmer Trio, then The Freedom Singers. We even made two albums.

9. I am dreadfully afraid of snakes - I can hardly stand to look at them. I hate worms too.

10. I have absolutely no athletic skills whatsoever. I never have.

11. I have belonged to three churches in my lifetime, each of them small, and I still have dear friends and family at the previous two.

12. I had a complete hysterectomy when I was 49 years old, because I was literally falling apart. I've never had a moment's regret.

13. I attended grades one through eight at Manheim Christian Day School, we sent our children there, and I've taught music there for twenty-four years. Am I loyal, or what???

14. I am dreadfully near-sighted. My contact lenses are minus nine, plus I have glasses that I wear WITH my contacts when I'm driving.

15. As we were raising our family we almost always had "extra people" living with us - foster children, single moms and their kids, tourists... I was happiest when I had a house full of people.

So there you are, folks, for whatever it's worth!

Elvin's heart surgery

Remember this happy occasion last summer? A few years after the sudden death of my sister Janet, her husband Elvin got married to long-time family friend Pauline. Today Elvin will be having triple by-pass heart surgery.

Back in the mid-nineties Elvin had a near heart attack and has since had two stents (spellchecker wants me to spell this stint, but that's not how we pronounce it, so I'm not spelling it that way!) put in. He also has been on a MISSION to keep a healthy heart with a most rigorous exercise routine and an incredibly disciplined diet. I have never met anyone with so much discipline. (In fact, we sisters have joked that when we tried to be accountable to each other about our diets it just didn't work, because we were too understanding with each other. One time I got the bright idea that maybe we should be accountable to Elvin!!) Unfortunately, heredity is the thing he can't have discipline over, so in spite of all he's been doing, this surgery is necessary. Without the lifestyle he's been living, it probably would have been necessary much, much sooner.

When we visited him at the hospital last evening, I asked him what ever in the world could possibly be blocking his arteries, given the fact he hardly has any meat or fat in his diet. He said that calcium and plaque can also clog arteries. I gotta check that out. Heart trouble is also a part of my heredity. Janet's death was caused by an arterial dissection, somewhat like an aneurysm. That's also what actor John Ritter died from, which his widow has put in the news lately, with the push for research which she has begun.

We wish Elvin a successful, UNCOMPLICATED surgery.

On a happy note, my brother-in-law Scott, who had the neck/spine surgery, is returning to the classroom today! He has been doing very well. He said the pain he has right now is from the physical therapy. That's a good pain. Have a great day back at work, Scott! Those kids will be so happy to have their zany teacher back!

Sunday worship and lunch

This morning my middle school worship team led worship at Grace Brethren of Manheim. (Dick tried to take pictures without a flash, so they mostly ended up blurry, but I'll share some of them anyway.) It was such a blessed morning. The Lord really touched people's hearts. He touched my heart, for that matter. I've said it before and I'll say it again, this part of my job - leading worship with a group of middle school students, is THE most inspiring, energizing, rewarding thing I do. I love to worship and I love middle school kids and I love music. What better way to incorporate all three? I am SO blessed to have this job.

That's my perch at the piano.

These are my three 7th grade guitar players.

The horn section.

Last night Destiny slept over at her daddy's house. Today after church Frank and Jess brought her back to our place and had lunch with us. Sam was here too. We had a fun afternoon.

Destiny and Jess's daughter Jamyra enjoy playing together (most of the time!)

Working outside

We finally had a chance to work outside today, cleaning up dead stuff from last year, pulling weeds already, and mulching around our new, little daffodils. At our other house we had so many daffodils, and I couldn't believe that this house didn't have any. However, we didn't get any planted until last fall. I was so delighted to see them come up and bloom, even if they are the tiniest things. Is that normal for the first year, or are these miniatures??

Everything we do around here feels like we're pioneers in the wild. This soil is outragiously hard and stony. But little by little we're getting things planted and each year it looks a little nicer.

Lazy evening at home

I had a busy, but really good day at school. I discovered after school that there were two messages on my cell phone, one from Destiny asking when I was coming to get her, and one from Ray saying that he was on his way home for the weekend. Thyda is still out at sea, and he has the weekend off. I drove to Reading after school to pick Destiny up. We've been having a lazy evening at home, just what I needed.

When Ray arrived he threw a load of clothes in the washer. He wanted to go out with a friend this evening, but needed to wait till his clothes were washed and dried. After they were in the drier I said, "Now go get your shower while your stuff is drying. I'll give you Dad's robe to wear until they're dry." He said, "A robe? If I wear a robe I'll have to have a cup of coffee and a newspaper to go with it." So when he came out of the bathroom with the robe on I made him pose for a picture. I told him to pretend he's a model for the Sears catalog. He looks the part, wouldn't you agree?

From the crazy to the sublime

Today was "Crazy Dress" day. Would you believe I completely forgot it until I got there, and I forgot my camera too. Oh my! What pictures I could have gotten - truly pathetic, hilarious pictures. One of the teachers said that her husband looked at her before she left home and said, "Drive carefully!"

Remember the other evening when I was having trouble putting my worship team's lyrics into PowerPoint slides? Yesterday morning our sweet Cambodian volunteer, Ren, whom I've introduced here before, gave me a few pointers that made all the difference, and I got that big job crossed off my list. Yea!! I just love crossing stuff off my list. Sometimes I've even added things to my list after I had already done them, just so I could have the pleasure of crossing them off. Silly, I know.

This evening I've been putting some arrangements for a couple of songs into my Noteworthy Composer program on my computer. One of them is My Savior, My God, which I've taught the entire school to sing together for our Spring program in May. I'm going to share the lyrics below. I just wish you could hear the kids when we get to the "My Savior loves, my Savior lives" part. It is POWERFUL!

My Savior, My God
by Aaron Shust

I am not skilled to understand
What God has willed, what God has planned.
I only know at His right hand,
Stands One who is my Savior.
I take Him at His word and deed,
Christ died to save me, this I read,
And in my heart I find a need
Of Him to be my Savior.
That He would leave His place on high
And come for sinful man to die.
You count it strange, so once did I
Before I knew my Savior.

My Savior loves, my Savior lives,
My Savior's always there for me.
My God, He was, my God, He is,
My God is always gonna be!

Yes, living, dying let me bring
My strength, my solace from this spring:
That He who lives to be my King
Once died to be my Savior.
That He would leave His place on high
And come for sinful man to die.
You count it strange, so once did I
Before I knew my Savior.

My Savior loves, my Savior lives,
My Savior's always there for me.
My God, He was, my God, He is,
My God is always gonna be!
My Savior lives, my Savior loves,
My Savior lives, my Savior loves,
My Savior lives!

2005 Bridge Building Music, Inc.

CCLI # 81822

A tale of tall tales

So yesterday was April Fool's Day. I have every joke in the book coming my way for the really awful one I played on my dear mother when I was a kid. We had a register in the floor of our upstairs bathroom to let the heat come up from the first floor. Unfortunately, we also had a toilet that was inclined to overflow. The two were not a good combination. One April 1st evening I thought I had a really funny idea. I yelled down the register opening, "The toilet is running over!" Panic struck the family members in the kitchen below, and in a very short time my mother was hurrying up the stairs with a bucket and mop. As she reached the top I merrily proclaimed, "April Fools!" Can you imagine that I thought that was funny??? I doubt I got the punishment I deserved for such a heartless deed.

Well, yesterday I was outdone, although this one really was funny, not mean. Some of you may remember the trick our daughter-in-law Lori played on me the other Christmas when I asked her to sing the opening solo of my Christmas musical at church. Her first time with us was during rehearsal the afternoon of perfomance day. When the song began she sang SO off-tune and with a light, breathy voice. I was thinking, "HOW could she have listened to the CD and thought the solo sounds like this???" After a few more measures she said, "Got ya, Mom!" Whew!! Was I relieved when we started the song again, and she sang IN TUNE with her big, absolutely amazing voice! The choir and I could hardly stop laughing the rest of the way through the song!

WELL, Lori even outdid that trick yesterday. She posted the most far-fetched story on her blog, actually more like two stories. As I read it I kept thinking, "This has to be an April Fool's joke." But she ended the post without saying so. I kept thinking, "Is this really true? Why didn't they call us before she put this story on her blog?" I started imagining that is was true. Finally, I called and put a message on her cell phone. She called back later to assure me it was indeed an April Fools joke, and she assumed it was so outragious, I would have known for sure it was! Apparently, I'm still a bit gullible! We got a good laugh over it. But hey, Lori, I was already spending some of the big bucks you were going to give your sweet, gullible mother-in-law, ha, ha, ha!! So are the rest of you curious yet? You'll have to check out her tall tale here.

Whew!!

We had a little scare around here this morning. Last evening Dick played basketball as he usually does on Monday evenings. He got "plowed into" by one of the other guys and got his shoulder hurt badly enough to quit playing for the rest of the evening (it has to be pretty bad for that to happen.) When he came home he put ice on it, took a big dose of ibuprofen, and went to bed. However, during the night he had a lot of pain, and this morning he decided to go right to the ER to have it X-rayed, rather than waste time waiting for an appointment at his family doctor. All kinds of thoughts went through my head - what if something is broken and he can't work? He already used most of his precious vacation days going to Sweden. I've been down that "worry road" several times before, so I didn't go far. But I was glad to hear from him later, telling me that he had a "shoulder separation", stretched ligaments or whatever, but nothing torn or broken. He was told that going back to work was dependent on his tolerance for pain. So guess what he did? He went to work. He's one tough guy, believe me.

Now he's sitting at the computer starting the glorious task of income tax filing.

I need to do our lyrics on Powerpoint for the church my worship team will be going to this Sunday. I haven't done anything on Powerpoint for a year and nothing was going right when I started it a while ago. So tomorrow I'll get some help before I get frustrated enough to break the computer!

We got some more laughs over the Pre-K kids again today. When they came into my room today one little girl said, "I like your necklace, Mrs. Stauffer, and I like your shirt, and I like your shoes." Okay, the necklace and the shirt I could understand. But the shoes??? Right now, with the pain I have in my heel, the only shoes I can wear to school are my black Reeboks with my orthotic inserts in them. They most certainly do not look compliment-worthy!! But then the Pre-K teacher said that one of them told her today that he likes the design on her pants. The design??? On closer examination she noticed that there were dots from markers on her pants! It doesn't take much to impress a five-year-old!!