Organization

Having just spent 4 hours at work, on Sunday afternoon, I have to say that I am thankful for organization. I love going to school on Sunday and getting everything ready for the upcoming week. It gives me such a sense of accomplishment (yeah for me and Lindsey!).

Now that the time has changed it gets dark so early that I do not like to stay at school and work. My feeble mind tells me that when it gets dark my day is done! So, I have to make it home before dark or I never get anything done at home either!! Besides, if I am at school I am talking or not focused after 4 p.m.--honestly, I would rather visit with people than work. That is the real reason I have to spend my Sunday afternoons getting things together.

I am also thankful for my husband who grilled the beef tenderloin, washed clothes and cleaned the kitchen while I was gone...I am lucky!

Hope you all have a great week. We are getting closer to Thanksgiving Day and that makes me happy!!!

Passion

I believe that you must be passionate about whatever you do. Without passion life would stand still. I am so lucky, after 30 years, to still be passionate about my career.

I have blogged a lot about this topic so this will be short. However, when I think about things I am thankful for I have to include my career and the passion I feel for what I do. Teaching is truly a calling. It should not be something you do until something better comes along, or while you are figuring out what you want to do when you grow up. Teaching should not be a place filler in your career path.

Being a teacher is the most important job in the world! Teachers are responsible for future doctors, lawyers, astronauts, and scientists. You have to realize the impact you have on each child sitting in your class. You have to give them the best every day, all day long. Teachers cannot afford to have a bad day...but if they do, the kids should never suffer because of it.

I am thankful for the opportunity to have a career that I enjoy. I am passionate about teaching. My heart is happy when I am called a teacher!

Reality TV

I LOVE REALITY TV!!! There. I've said it. I admit I am an addict. Are there 12 steps for this addiction?

I am thankful for reality TV! It gives me an outlet to "zone out" and not have to think or make a decision. What a great thing!

My favorite is Big Brother. I want to be on that show so badly. I could do that! No bugs, no heat, no swimming...only food deprivation (I would be a biatch!!) and memory challenges (I would pray)! I would be the female Evil Dick and I would relish the role.

Yes, reality TV is my life. The way I look at it--I have enough real life drama...I need to live vicariously through others!

So, what am I thankful for on this day--being able to watch other people be the fool I would love to be! Happy weekend!

Paid Off!

I am thankful for the fact that in October I made my last payment on my car!!! Yeah for extra money each month! A clear car title is a rare thing...mostly I trade cars in before I pay them off so I cannot remember ever NOT having a car payment!

I love my car! It is just the right size, gets great gas mileage, looks sporty and runs great! I highly recommend a Mazda...in fact, I am getting the itch for the new Mazda 6. We saw it at the fair and I fell in love. But, I think I love having extra cash for the holidays even more. Now I just hope nothing breaks or falls apart so I can actually splurge a little and buy something completely unnecessary!!!!

p.s. Sorry for the short post--it's been a hectic few days and I am tired!!!

My ZsaZsa

Dogs are so great because they give you unconditional love. No matter what happens, no matter how bad your day, they love you. They wag their little tails when they see you. They lick your hands and give kisses. They cuddle beside you or in your lap.

ZsaZsa is my precious little chihuahua. She is 4 years old and my baby girl! This tiny little white puppy with the tan heart shaped spot on her left side, pointy pink ears and big brown eyes warms my heart each evening when I come home. She jumps on the back of the sofa, wags her tail, barks and gets so excited to see me.

One of my favorite times of the day is when she and I lay on the loveseat, covered in our blankie and watching TV. In fact...that sounds great right about now. Think I will end this and cuddle with my ZsaZsa. I am thankful she came into my life to love me!!!

Tootsie

Joyce Ann (Tootsie) Hale Wilson, my mom, was a remarkable woman.

Moma raised me to believe that I could do anything I set my mind to and be anything I wanted. She supported me, loved me, encouraged me and guided me. Tootsie was loved by all who knew her and I never heard anyone make a negative comment about her.

Moma died when I was 25. She died of cancer. Moma was a heavy smoker--began when she was 14 or 15 and smoked two or three packs a day. I begged her to stop. I threw her cigarettes away, drenched them in water, you name it. I tried everything! She was just too addicted. I am blessed that she was able to meet Juan. I remember sitting on her sofa one day after school, telling her that he was the one I could see myself with for the rest of my life. She smiled and said, "Then I will love him, too." She did not live to see us get married. Nor did she get to see her two wonderful grandchildren. She would have loved being apart of our lives.

A day does not go by that I do not think of her. She is the first person who comes to mind when I accomplish something or when I fail. I know she would have supported my achievements and even encouraged my failures. I miss her so very much.

I am thankful for her love and her memories! Love ya, Moma!

Next...

Of course my next thing to be most thankful for is my husband, Juan. We have been married for 27 years (this December) and share lots of fond memories...some not so fond...but we won't discuss these here. HA!

We actually meet through a mutual friend. Juan was working at NAS Dallas, in the gym. I had just bought and MGB and she suggested that I bring the car out and meet this guy she worked with. That evening Juan and I went to the bar on base and got to know each other. He was cute and very polite. I liked him right away, and we began to see each other almost daily. A few weeks into the relationship I found out that his divorce was not final. I told him to call me when it was, and I waited.

Several weeks went by. I missed him but I was not about to get involved with a married man (not intentionally anyway!). I just spent more time in my classroom and focused on my kids. I was working a part time job at the mall and life went on. I remember the Saturday that he walked into Motherhood Maternity (my part time job!). He was extremely pale and slightly green around the gills. I could tell he was hung over. He walked over to the counter and said, "My divorce was final yesterday." I smiled, told him to go home, recuperate and call me in a few days. He did, and the rest is history!

We got married in 1981. David was born in 1985 and Joy came along in 1988. I have the perfect family--not perfect people, perfect family. Juan is our guardian, our protector, our provider, our benefactor. He takes care of all the "manly" things like trash, mowing the lawn, paying bills, dealing with car repairs, etc. But he also does the laundry, listens to me rant about work and cries when our dogs died.

Don't get me wrong. We have had our rough times. Most marriages do. But, with age comes compassion and comfort. This anniversary will mark the time in our lives when we have been together half our lives. That is a milestone! One that I am happy to meet!