Love Life.....

I choose life. Love Life....give to others in life....let others know you love them in life. Love Life...This post is a little sorrowful. This week has been very sorrowful for me. I have cried....I have laughed...I have cried.....I have realized how important it is to make a life for me....my family...my girls. Monday morning my principal(whom let me just say is such an amazing woman whom I admire in sooo many ways...this is actually my first year with her as counselor)...anyway....my principal comes to me and tells me that one of the middle school teachers has passed away and Im needed at middle school. For those of you that don't know...middle school has been my professional home for the past fourteen years of my education career....so this news was a shock...this news was straight to the heart, you might say. The class of students this teacher had were mine last year....I knew all of them.....the principal was my principal for the past fourteen years. I know the teachers he worked with well....they were my colleagues.....one of his close colleagues is my babysitter's husband....sad, sad. After being at the middle school for two days this week...I have a mixture of feelings.....but most importantly....I have learned the lesson to love life. I have learned the lesson of don't ever doubt what I am doing is not making a difference for these kids. Listening to the kids showed me that he was an amazing teacher who made learning fun for them. What goes through a person's head to not want to choose life? What allows someone to leave all of these innocent lives in the making? What allows someone to feel that way at that very moment and so alone that they would not choose life? It saddens my heart to no end......my heart is sad for his family.....and for his extended school family.....the students and faculty that knew him and worked with him for those years. I know he is smiling down now and realizes that so many cared for him......but its too late to take it back. We just now add the question to our list for God when we eventually meet the Maker. For me....I choose life. I choose making a life that others will know my passion and how much I love what I do. I am now making a new extended family....and in just a few short months......I have grown attached to a new faculty of colleagues.....students....oh the students....how I love them. They are my life....they are amazing in so many ways. I have a new "high" on what I do after something sooo tragic happened to affect so many people that I care for and still hold a place in my heart. CHOOSE LIFE!!!!!

GRATITUDE....

(excerpt taken from a gratitude blog)...

"To me, gratitude comes in those small spaces of breathing between all the tiny moments that happen throughout our days, when the phone rings, and its the voice of a dear friend you were just thinking about, when a stranger opens a door for you, when an unexpected package arrives in the mail. It's honoring all the small moments, the ones that collect and create a perimeter of goodness around your life. It's paying attention to the way someone looks at you, to the way you feel when you're inspired, to how those cute new shoes put a skip in your step. Gratitude. It's recognizing, even in times of struggle, that you have all you could ever need, that there are moments every single day that ask you to notice, and to celebrate. It's in these moments, for me, especially the small ones, where gratitude lives."

I have all I need right here with my sweet family....a wonderful loving husband and three amazing beautiful, healthy daughters....thank you God! It is the small moments of life we need to celebrate to appreciate the bigger picture. Sometimes all it takes to remind me is some amazing words from a gratitude blog....Happy Sunday to all my blogger friends. Signing off...Tara

More pics from Baby girl's 1st bday party...

LOOK AT ME!!! Im pushing my baby stroller....I am a big girl...now if I could just let go and walk all on my own.....soon, Im sure!

As you can tell from the pic...I really like my sugar!!! And that I was very very tired on my birthday party day.....after this I went to bed! It's hard work being the party girl!

Here you are reaching for your cake....bring on the sugar, Mommy!!!!

The guests' cake....scrumptious!!!!

Nelley's cake after Mommy tried to transfer it to the beautiful cake platter...didn't work really well as you can see via smudge. The theme was "Nelley Kate is a WILD ONE!"......pink cheetah print everywhere.

Fun was had by all and it was a successful birthday party...bittersweet. Our family's last 1st birthday party. Our family is definitely complete.

One year ago today....you came into our lives. You completed our family. Our third baby girl...Nelley Kate! We love you so very much. It's hard to believe that we celebrate your first birthday. You have yet to walk on your own...but for several months now...you have been cruising like no other. You just need to believe in yourself! I am not worried.....in time, you will take that first step like your older two sisters. We can't wait to see what you become. Happy Birthday Miss Thing....our baby girl!!!(PS...I know this post is at 2:41 am the next morning....it's called "Mommy Time" and someday when you are a mother...you will understand.)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SOFEY ELAINE!!!! This sweet baby girl number two of three turns six today. We had big celebrations this weekend for Sofey. We had family come over and had a spongebob themed party. Loved the cake! You wanted spongebob and this year we purchased it from Wal Mart and I believe that they did a great job!!! So cute! As a surprise we bought you a trampoline and I have never seen you jump so much...to your heart's content!! We felt it was a great gift. Then Sunday night...we went went and watched Toy Story III and it was a big hit....worth seeing...two thumbs up! We love you so much Sofey Elaine and our life is blessed because of you. You are so artistic, creative, unique and have a great sense of humor!

Jessica's "Daily Affirmation"

I am a big believer in positive affirmations. When I first became a teacher, I went to a workshop solely devoted to the power of positive affirmations in your classroom. I used these religiously with my students and the power of the mind is boggling! Have a great positive weekend!

"To watch us dance...is to hear our hearts!"

This weekend was spent in full mode dance recital. If you did not have seats in Woodward High School auditorium today for the awesome, amazing, packed house for Miss Brenda and Miss Shay Shay's Studio of Dance...you were missing a wonderful performance. We are exhausted but had an amazing time. Above are some pics to highlight the talent! We only had one major breakdown on our last dance...because Abbey felt like she was going to miss the performance...when in all actuality...she had plenty of time. Luckily, the beautiful young lady, Miss Jada, pictured above in pink with Abbey...helped calm my first baby girl down...and we just adore her very much! Abbey can not stop talking about her.....I truly believe that she is an amazing role model for my Abbey Sue....and speaking of role models.....both Brenda and Shay have helped my Abbey to make a goal of someday being on the dance team at Woodward and then eventually OSU dance team. She has a lot of hard work and many years to go....so we will see. Until then....this exhausted Mommy is signing off and going to bed. To sum up the love we feel for our children...here is a note Sofey left me last week.....precious, precious...this is why we do it for our children!!!