[ oldies but goodies ]

I have been lucky this weekend to be able to catch up with some old high school classmates...

I saw Jeff Colby at the basketball game on Friday - that was a surprise! I never expected to see him there. He's a pilot for the Air Force (I think that's the right branch of the military) and is usually stationed in Italy and flying to the Middle East everyday. He said he just flew in for the weekend...nice. Anyway - it was great to see him. It's been a few years, I think...

Then, yesterday, was Alan Scheenstra's memorial service. There were lots of friends there to catch up with: Isidro and KayLynn, Juanita and Fred, Lindsay and BJ, Alex, Somchay, Josh, Ismael, Jason and Irma, and Jessica. Alan's wife organized a nice service and all the people that were gathered there reflected parts of Alan's life. The only thing missing was Alan - he would've loved being there with everyone.

[ honor ]

Last Thursday, I took the Junior Miss girls to the Connell Chamber of Commerce Banquet like we do every year...

and came home with this:

It was quite a surprise, but definitely an honor. I think of all the well-deserving teachers and administrators that have been working so hard for much longer than I, and I am humbled.

I struggled to find the right words to express my emotions that night and I still do.

It makes the tough days a little easier...and the fun days a lot more fun! :) There are so many times when it's stressful or frustrating - but that is the job. This reminds me that it's about the students and the relationships I build...not the JOB.

I received these beautiful roses from my Grandma that night...

and these were on my desk the next morning from Tim & Chris (my Principal and Vice Principal)...

[ sacrifice ]

We had a great assembly at school today...we recognized the wrestlers and basketball players, the band played, we sang the fight song, a teacher got his hair shaved...

and we honored one of our own.

My friend, high school classmate, and now, fellow CHS co-worker,

Oscar Garza

is being deployed to Iraq for his 2nd tour of duty.

Stephanie & Oscar Garza

The ASB had a wonderful tribute to him and Mr. Clark even sang "I'm Proud to Be an American" (with the school joining in on the chorus) - the most meaningful was a video they put together with lots of students and staff members wishing Oscar good luck. He is so well-respected by the students...it was great to see how much he means to them.

DJ and Oscar Garza
(DJ is Oscar's sister and organized his send-off - so special.)

Once the assembly was over, practically the entire student body rushed to the floor to all give him hugs. It was a tearful moment. Seriously - I was in tears. I tried to keep it together, but it didn't work so well.

Oscar's wife, Stephanie (also a classmate), is so strong. She is incredible - I don't know how you do it.

Here's the link to the Tri-City Herald article: http://www.tri-cityherald.com/kennewick_pasco_richland/story/497490.html

These pictures are from the Tri-City Herald online photo gallery...

[ update ]

It's been a busy couple of days...

I have something real fun to write about, but I need to take a couple pictures first before I post a blog about it.

So, to begin with, I've been reading... :) wow. I would like to keep track of the books I read in 2009. So, here's what I've read so far in 2009:

Here's what I'm currently reading:

Here's what's on my shelf for my Spring Break:

So, anyway, here's a good story. :) I have been working for about two weeks on a simple baby quilt for my friend Stephanie who is having baby girl #2 on Tuesday, March 3. We went to elementary through high school together and even sorta went to college and grad school together! While I was at Whitworth, Steph was at Gonzaga. We spent sooo much time together - having fun, studing, experimenting at Starbucks, dining at Casa de Oro, and shopping! :) She lives in Missouri now, so I haven't seen her in probably 4 years (AH! Has it been that long?!). She married a great guy and they have a beautiful daughter, Katelyn. Their beautiful blessing #2 is set to arrive on Tuesday.

SO - I've been working on this quilt. It's definitely challenging my skills as a novice quilter. To save some time (and skip the skills I definitely DO NOT KNOW yet - machine quilting, heck - hand quilting, binding, etc.), I decided to sew this quilt inside out, flip it right side out, and tie it. I'm not a big tied quilt fan, but this baby is coming and I'm neck deep in other committments and don't have time to teach myself these skills that I lack.

I've become decent at piecing a quilt together, but everything that happens once the top is pieced together is frightening. Last night, I put the pieces of the quilt together (top, bottom, and batting) - figured out how to put the walking foot onto my machine - said a little prayer, and put the quilt to the needle. Straightness issues aside, I sewed around the entire quilt except for the 8" at the end that I kept open as the space to turn the quilt inside out. I was pretty excited to get that far so I was going to turn it right side out to see what it looked like (especially with the non-straight stitching). I realized that I put the batting between the top and bottom fabrics like I was going to bind it. If I were to turn it right side out now, the batting would be on the outside, not the inside. AH! It took me two hours last night to rip the seams out...so maddening. Not that I'm under pressure - did I mention the baby is due on Tuesday and she lives in Missouri?! Plus, Jessica offered to help me tie the quilt and I am going to take her up on that offer - on MONDAY! (tomorrow!) So, guess what I'm doing before church today?!

In addition, I've been working on the Junior Miss booklet (anyone mildly proficient in Microsoft Publisher and would like to help with JM next year? I'm ready to pass this job on...) which I need to take to the printer tomorrow, organizing all the information that has to do with the Beta Craft Retreat, and I'm supposed to be working on WASL stuff this weekend, but I realized I only got home with 1/4 of what I need to work on it, so it will have to wait until I get back to school tomorrow.

Exciting life, huh? So, I'm off to try to sew my quilt the right way. Wish me luck!

[ ash wednesday ]

Today is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. The purpose of Lent is to reflect, repent, and soul-search in the 40 days leading up to Easter. It's a time to focus on Jesus and what he did for us. He spent 40 days in the wilderness, so the idea is to give something up for 40 days and in a sense, enter the wilderness like Jesus did.

I always feel a lot of pressure to figure out what to give up for Lent or what to add to my life for these 40 days. It always seems to sneak up on me! I'm not great at giving up things, which is the purpose of giving something up, but still...In college, I gave up Pepsi one year. That was silly. One can not live without it. What was I thinking?! Since then, I have always been adamant about not giving something up. Working with the Youth Group, I feel like I need to set a good example - and if we encourage them to give something up, I should do it too.

I could give up online shopping (thanks for the idea, Whitney!) because heaven knows I'm good at that! But, then, I think - I should've bought my makeup refills yesterday and I do still need to get a birthday gift for my cousin...the list goes on and on. Maybe I could give up buying craft supplies, scrapbook supplies, fabric, and sewing notions online. That would be actually good. Just online, though, right? I could still go to Craft Warehouse?!

What about the idea of adding something?! I heard about that idea in college and really liked it. They say that it takes a period of time to make something a habit - so adding something like reading the Bible everyday, would hopefully create a habit by Easter. I've been doing better about reading scriptures because of my Scripture Challenge I'm doing during 2009. I'm still not great, not consistent, not studying as much as skimming...I could pray more...I could make an effort to go to church each Sunday (what a concept!).

I think I'll do the online crafty shopping. It will be tough, but I can do it. (Plus, it will be a lot easier to pay my taxes!!!) Forty days...here we go!

[ tuesday ]

Today was a crazy day. School wasn't anything new, fun, or exciting...nor bad, awful, or frustrating. Just blah. Jennifer and I were looking for things to keep ourselves busy (well, I had plenty to do - but I liked chatting with Jen and helping her find things to keep her busy!). haha....

After school was another story...

I finally got to meet Liam Fife. He is definitely a Fife with the distinct lips, mouth, and chin! He's precious - we just didn't get started on the right foot. Everytime I held him, he cried. Hopefully our next meeting will be more fun!

I went home real quick and got ready for Junior Miss. Tonight was our public ticket sales, so there was apparently a line forming around 2pm this afternoon for the ticket sales that went on sale at 5:30pm. When I looked at 5:30, there was a line almost all the way down to the band room (ticket sales were at the CHS Breezeway with the ticket table at the door of the auditorium). We have about 60 tickets left - out of 400! WOW!

Our practices are becoming fewer in number, so we're trying to pack as much as possible at each practice. Mom and I were frantic getting to practice tonight, so I hope we didn't put that frantic feeling on the contestants. They are on the crescendo and getting more and more prepared for March 14th. It's coming...and fast! AH!

I left JM early to make it to the Beta meeting. Tonight was the wrap up for the Crafting Retreat, so I had a lot to present and talk about. It went well and we are planning on having it again next year. YAY! I proposed some things to make next year better and I think they were well-received. I hope it works out. We did decide to have the retreat at the Clarion again next year - for all of those who are wondering! :) I think it will either be January 29-31 or February 5-7, 2010.

Anyway - got home tonight and had a bowl of Trix. Rehashing the day with the parents. Staying up way past my bedtime. Decided not to go to the Lenten Breakfast tomorrow morning at 6:30am. Tomorrow will be long enough without being out the door at 6:30am. :)

[ welcome to the world! ]

Liam Patrick Fife

February 21, 2009

8:43 pm

8 lbs. 6 oz. 19 in.

Congratulations Zach, Jessica, and Ronan!

[ irritated ]

Being sick is irritating the crap out of me. I'm feeling ok - but I know I'm sick and I don't want to get other people sick! It's making me miss so many fun things this weekend, including:

• Craft Day with Jessica and Amy. I've really been looking forward to hanging out with them. I really don't want to get them sick - especially Emersyn and Delaney.

• meeting Liam Patrick Fife. He was born last night around 8:45pm. I was hoping that my sickness would be cleared up today so that I could visit Liam and Jessica in the hospital before going to Jessica Perkins' to craft. No such luck. I definitely need to keep my distance from Liam for a few days. BUMMER.

So - I'm here...at home...watching the Food Network...thinking about going downstairs to get something done before my afternoon nap. I slept so long yesterday that I had a terrible sleep night last night. I probably should power through this afternoon to get back on the right schedule, so we'll see.

So - sorry girls. I really wish I could hang out with you. Have fun and post pictures! :)

[ sleep ]

I just woke up from a 3 or 4 hour nap - not sure how long because I don't remember what time I fell asleep. :) Hopefully that will knock this sickness!

For those who are wondering what decisions were made at our class reunion meeting today....NONE! No one else showed up, so I left after waiting 30 minutes. I guess we'll have to reschedule?! or do it via email. I'm not sure.

[ yuck ]

I think I have strep. Yuck.