I've reached the age of 40.....something, and I am here to admit that I don't think I've truly every really appreciated what Memorial Day means.
I mean, I know it is a day set aside for us to honor those who have fallen for our country.
But I have never really appreciated what that means, until.....
There have been several small things I've read or heard over the last 24hrs and then I just saw Pioneer Woman's Memorial Day post.
Then, I understood what it means.
Yesterday someone posted on Facebook:
"Freedom is not free."
that stuck with me
This morning a new song on the radio had the lyrics:
"Have we forgotten how to be Americans?"
that bugged me
The song also mentioned the familiar phrase:
"The home of the free and the brave."
That made me swell with pride, but I quickly reminded myself that I am not brave, not in the least.
Then that brought me back to,
"Freedom is not free."
"Freedom is not free and please click on this link to see photos: thepioneerwoman.com
I am so grateful I live in this country.
I am so grateful to have spent yesterday with ones that I love.
And I am so grateful for the men and women who have and continue to serve
the home of the free and the brave.
Amen.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Sunday, May 29, 2011
It's {almost} summertime!!!!!
It's that glorious time of year when the girls are all done and I have just a few work days left.....school's out and let summertime begin!
(quick note: I clearly have fallen right into this "got nothin' else to do" state of mind, 'cuz I have spent hours and hours trying to redesign the blog. I've spent hours looking for photos to create a new banner and can't find them. ARGH! Frustrating. I hope I don't piddle away the rest of my summer like this.)
My grandpa liked tell the story of the first time I said grace at a table of some, apparently very important people. He would say that he was so proud when I was done, that when he sat up he "popped a button right off of his shirt".
Well, I don't remember that moment that way, I was scared to death and certainly don't remember any flying buttons!
But as a parent I can relate to feeling so very, very proud of her young-ins this week that I could just burst!
Our high school only invites underclassmen to awards ceremonies if they are receiving an award...fortunately this is Andrea's second year of high school and her second award. Last year she received an award from her science teacher. This year, an award from her art teacher! Scott had to work, but he was quick to text back "fixed, rigged" when I texted him the news! :0) teehee.
(Sorry, this pic was taken on my cell phone, but I like the blur....sort of expresses the excitement in the room.)
Grandma and Grandpa could be there and we are grateful.
That was Monday night.
Thursday was McKenna's awards, of which every student gets something, but oh my little one; she got some biggies...
Citizenship all year; A/B Honor Roll all year; Principal's List all year and Perfect Attendance!
Watch out, buttons might fly!
Grandpa had to work this time, but daddy could be there and we are grateful.
However, the girls weren't quite done with their accolades; Andrea won a candy bar wrapper design contest and came home with a gift card for $15 to our local ice cream store. McKenna comes home with not one but two letters. The first one is inviting her to participate in a new Video Production Club and her second letter was from the Rotary Club letting her know that they have awarded her with a $50 savings bond for her Principal's List and Perfect Attendance!
And finally, on Florida's FCAT testing, we know Andrea received a 5 in writing (6 is the highest possible score) and we are still very anxiously waiting for Andrea's reading and math scores. In the meantime, we do know that McKenna received a 4 in Reading and a 5 in math. (5 is the highest possible score.)
On the last day, McKenna took one final gift to her classroom teacher Mrs. Rohn and one to her aftercare teacher, who was phenomenal, Mrs. Spencer. We filled a summer beach pale with sunscreen, flip-flops, a magazine, a cool new cup to drink from, some favorite candy and a Beach Boys CD. I thought they turned out cute.
And so, on this long Memorial weekend, I have crafted some, slept some and blogged some. We swim tomorrow and hopefully begin to look like a Floridian instead of an Eskimo with my white skin!
Have a wonderful Holiday everyone.
And here's to one wonderful summer with you!!!!!!!
Love Melle
(quick note: I clearly have fallen right into this "got nothin' else to do" state of mind, 'cuz I have spent hours and hours trying to redesign the blog. I've spent hours looking for photos to create a new banner and can't find them. ARGH! Frustrating. I hope I don't piddle away the rest of my summer like this.)
My grandpa liked tell the story of the first time I said grace at a table of some, apparently very important people. He would say that he was so proud when I was done, that when he sat up he "popped a button right off of his shirt".
Well, I don't remember that moment that way, I was scared to death and certainly don't remember any flying buttons!
But as a parent I can relate to feeling so very, very proud of her young-ins this week that I could just burst!
Our high school only invites underclassmen to awards ceremonies if they are receiving an award...fortunately this is Andrea's second year of high school and her second award. Last year she received an award from her science teacher. This year, an award from her art teacher! Scott had to work, but he was quick to text back "fixed, rigged" when I texted him the news! :0) teehee.
(Sorry, this pic was taken on my cell phone, but I like the blur....sort of expresses the excitement in the room.)
Grandma and Grandpa could be there and we are grateful.That was Monday night.
Thursday was McKenna's awards, of which every student gets something, but oh my little one; she got some biggies...
Citizenship all year; A/B Honor Roll all year; Principal's List all year and Perfect Attendance!
Watch out, buttons might fly!
Grandpa had to work this time, but daddy could be there and we are grateful.However, the girls weren't quite done with their accolades; Andrea won a candy bar wrapper design contest and came home with a gift card for $15 to our local ice cream store. McKenna comes home with not one but two letters. The first one is inviting her to participate in a new Video Production Club and her second letter was from the Rotary Club letting her know that they have awarded her with a $50 savings bond for her Principal's List and Perfect Attendance!
And finally, on Florida's FCAT testing, we know Andrea received a 5 in writing (6 is the highest possible score) and we are still very anxiously waiting for Andrea's reading and math scores. In the meantime, we do know that McKenna received a 4 in Reading and a 5 in math. (5 is the highest possible score.)
On the last day, McKenna took one final gift to her classroom teacher Mrs. Rohn and one to her aftercare teacher, who was phenomenal, Mrs. Spencer. We filled a summer beach pale with sunscreen, flip-flops, a magazine, a cool new cup to drink from, some favorite candy and a Beach Boys CD. I thought they turned out cute.
And so, on this long Memorial weekend, I have crafted some, slept some and blogged some. We swim tomorrow and hopefully begin to look like a Floridian instead of an Eskimo with my white skin!Have a wonderful Holiday everyone.
And here's to one wonderful summer with you!!!!!!!
Love Melle
Monday, May 16, 2011
Things are lookin' up.....
Well, you know it's been a recent philosophy of mine; it is difficult to appreciate the good without goin' through a little bad.....
So if the last week I posted about was Heavenly, you can fill in the blanks and know that I mean the week I just finished was He--!
As mentioned, the yearbooks had arrived and all in all, their arrival (and box opening) wasn't as stomach wrenching as I thought it would be......however, the delivering and distribution of 500+ yearbooks was. For the sake of this post, it doesn't matter why (although I will keep good notes to myself and make major improvements for next year).
Wednesday was to be the day books were delivered to teachers and Thursday the books would go home with students.
Well, Wicked Wednesday was wicked because our school sprayed some pesticide for snakes!!
It's not the snakes that upset me; it was the PESTICIDE. Oh my word, the smell was so very strong. It was so very strong in our special area building! I had a headache w/in about 10 minutes and the kids were beginning to have reactions; nose bleed, difficulty breathing and dizziness......
Well, of course we went outside......but.......but......I only had 3 lessons left with these students......I was hellbent on watercolor painting......move a class of students suddenly outside.....outside and do what......well, lots of creative things......but not watercolor painting......not spur of the moment anyway.......
Anyway, I managed with pencils and paper and we "sketched" for about 30 seconds and then it was "Mrs. Broaderick, I need my pencil sharpened." "Mrs. Broaderick, I have to pee." "Mrs. Broaderick, save me I have a spider on my paper" (a spider that took a microscope to see).......we then moved on to sidewalk chalk drawing and that engaged them for about 60 seconds more.....my classes are an hour long.........
It was a rough morning.
Then, my precious planning time on Wednesday was meant for moving yearbooks from my Primary building to the Intermediate building only I hadn't been in my room during the morning to arrange for custodial help.......
You can see how this was going......
Well, books got to the Intermediate center that day and they got delivered to the teachers.....once with teachers.....well, that was another circus.....again, for the sake of this post I won't explain here.....but oh the notes I will write to myself for next year.......I was in my toxic classroom until almost 6pm taking care of "yearbook issues" and then I finally went home......I even wanted a beer with dinner but was paranoid of the adverse effects the alcohol might have with the pesticide chemicals that were in my system.....crazy I know......but it was a traumatic day.
Well, the title of this post did say, "things were lookin' up" and they were, finally, by the weekend. I never slept very well the rest of that week, so I really was grateful to sleep in Saturday. I also played in the studio and went to the movies.....you know how I love to escape at the movies.......
Lookin' up even more, I had time to work in the studio again on Sunday and worked on one more page in my Inspiration Journal. Scott and I also went to the movies again, this time for a spontaneous "date night".
Can't remember if I've mentioned Christy Tomlinson's blog that I came across but I so enjoy her "style" and her latest post inspired me on my Saturday morning.
(sorry for the color quality.....I took them on my cell phone......)
I've got a few other ideas in my head.....perhaps they will be the art on the front of note cards? Not sure, doesn't really matter for now, I just got to play and it was wonderful.
Love you much!
Melle
So if the last week I posted about was Heavenly, you can fill in the blanks and know that I mean the week I just finished was He--!
As mentioned, the yearbooks had arrived and all in all, their arrival (and box opening) wasn't as stomach wrenching as I thought it would be......however, the delivering and distribution of 500+ yearbooks was. For the sake of this post, it doesn't matter why (although I will keep good notes to myself and make major improvements for next year).
Wednesday was to be the day books were delivered to teachers and Thursday the books would go home with students.
Well, Wicked Wednesday was wicked because our school sprayed some pesticide for snakes!!
It's not the snakes that upset me; it was the PESTICIDE. Oh my word, the smell was so very strong. It was so very strong in our special area building! I had a headache w/in about 10 minutes and the kids were beginning to have reactions; nose bleed, difficulty breathing and dizziness......
Well, of course we went outside......but.......but......I only had 3 lessons left with these students......I was hellbent on watercolor painting......move a class of students suddenly outside.....outside and do what......well, lots of creative things......but not watercolor painting......not spur of the moment anyway.......
Anyway, I managed with pencils and paper and we "sketched" for about 30 seconds and then it was "Mrs. Broaderick, I need my pencil sharpened." "Mrs. Broaderick, I have to pee." "Mrs. Broaderick, save me I have a spider on my paper" (a spider that took a microscope to see).......we then moved on to sidewalk chalk drawing and that engaged them for about 60 seconds more.....my classes are an hour long.........
It was a rough morning.
Then, my precious planning time on Wednesday was meant for moving yearbooks from my Primary building to the Intermediate building only I hadn't been in my room during the morning to arrange for custodial help.......
You can see how this was going......
Well, books got to the Intermediate center that day and they got delivered to the teachers.....once with teachers.....well, that was another circus.....again, for the sake of this post I won't explain here.....but oh the notes I will write to myself for next year.......I was in my toxic classroom until almost 6pm taking care of "yearbook issues" and then I finally went home......I even wanted a beer with dinner but was paranoid of the adverse effects the alcohol might have with the pesticide chemicals that were in my system.....crazy I know......but it was a traumatic day.
Well, the title of this post did say, "things were lookin' up" and they were, finally, by the weekend. I never slept very well the rest of that week, so I really was grateful to sleep in Saturday. I also played in the studio and went to the movies.....you know how I love to escape at the movies.......
Lookin' up even more, I had time to work in the studio again on Sunday and worked on one more page in my Inspiration Journal. Scott and I also went to the movies again, this time for a spontaneous "date night".
Can't remember if I've mentioned Christy Tomlinson's blog that I came across but I so enjoy her "style" and her latest post inspired me on my Saturday morning.
(sorry for the color quality.....I took them on my cell phone......)I've got a few other ideas in my head.....perhaps they will be the art on the front of note cards? Not sure, doesn't really matter for now, I just got to play and it was wonderful.
Love you much!
Melle
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Mother's Day so SWEET!
And a sweet week too!
The yearbooks are in! {squeal, squeal}
They haven't been passed out yet.....shhhh.....this is the first peek!
Our school wide reading theme this year was "Solving Mysteries One Book at a Time" so the yearbook follows the same theme. (our school mascot is the buffalo)
I took a day off this week so I could help chaperon on McKenna's field trip to see James and the Giant Peach in Orlando.
My Lion King tickets are here!
{squeal, squeal, jump, jump, scream, scream, pass out from shear joy}
I've told the story over and over this week to family, to friends, to passersby, but I guess I haven't told it here.....
Well, it may require another post a little closer to our trip, but I'll give you the short version for now. In June, Scott and I are going to his friends wedding in New York City! That Thursday night, we have Yankee vs. Red Sox tickets. Friday night Scott will be at the bachelor party so I will get to see The Lion King on Broadway with a very special former student of mine as my handsome date! Saturday is the wedding and Sunday we fly back.
Did I mention my Lion King tickets are here?!
This morning was breakfast in bed with my favorite - a Mickey Mouse waffle!
Okay, okay, this was a photo from last year's Mother's Day....but I don't think I ever posted it and this morning's was almost exactly the same (including a cup of Earl Gray), but I was much too bleary-eyed this morning to take a picture.
And bested treat of all, I got to spend 12 hours in my studio this weekend......
Oh man, well, alright......12 hours cleaning.....the place was a wreck......
Oh come on! Okay, this photo was from two years ago when the studio had just been completed...it sort of still looks like that today......gosh, so picky!
I think you should be impressed that I could find photos from the past year....and earlier!
And well, finally, my car didn't get washed, but I did catch up on every bit of laundry....it took two and half days, but as the girls and I sit here wrapped up in a blanket thanks to the chill in the room......every BIT of laundry is all done! {wink}
Love to all,
Melle
(I finally added words to my last post, so keep reading..... )
The yearbooks are in! {squeal, squeal}
They haven't been passed out yet.....shhhh.....this is the first peek!
Our school wide reading theme this year was "Solving Mysteries One Book at a Time" so the yearbook follows the same theme. (our school mascot is the buffalo)
I took a day off this week so I could help chaperon on McKenna's field trip to see James and the Giant Peach in Orlando.
My Lion King tickets are here!{squeal, squeal, jump, jump, scream, scream, pass out from shear joy}
I've told the story over and over this week to family, to friends, to passersby, but I guess I haven't told it here.....
Well, it may require another post a little closer to our trip, but I'll give you the short version for now. In June, Scott and I are going to his friends wedding in New York City! That Thursday night, we have Yankee vs. Red Sox tickets. Friday night Scott will be at the bachelor party so I will get to see The Lion King on Broadway with a very special former student of mine as my handsome date! Saturday is the wedding and Sunday we fly back.
Did I mention my Lion King tickets are here?!
This morning was breakfast in bed with my favorite - a Mickey Mouse waffle!
Okay, okay, this was a photo from last year's Mother's Day....but I don't think I ever posted it and this morning's was almost exactly the same (including a cup of Earl Gray), but I was much too bleary-eyed this morning to take a picture.And bested treat of all, I got to spend 12 hours in my studio this weekend......
Oh man, well, alright......12 hours cleaning.....the place was a wreck......
Oh come on! Okay, this photo was from two years ago when the studio had just been completed...it sort of still looks like that today......gosh, so picky!
I think you should be impressed that I could find photos from the past year....and earlier!And well, finally, my car didn't get washed, but I did catch up on every bit of laundry....it took two and half days, but as the girls and I sit here wrapped up in a blanket thanks to the chill in the room......every BIT of laundry is all done! {wink}
Love to all,
Melle
(I finally added words to my last post, so keep reading..... )
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