So many things are going through my mind and I want to write something, but not sure what. I'm watching The Biggest Loser right now. It is an uplifting show because I know how hard it is to get off 25 pounds, I can't even begin to imagine how the contestants feel because they weigh over 200, 300 and 400 pounds. Twenty five pounds would just be a drop in the bucket to them. Their determination is truly amazing. I know how I feel when I look in the mirror and not have to look at those 25 pounds. That is equivalent to 5 five pound bags of rice or 25 one pound cans of food. I pray the contestants are successful. The show has really inspired so many around the country. It can be a decision that will save their lives. To me it is a very worthwhile reality show.

The news is so depressing these days. The Muslims declaring a holy war against the Christians. They were burning the Pope in effigy. I'm not Catholic, but I am a Christian and I fear for the Christians overseas, especially the ones in Muslim countries. They are so vulnerable and targets of hate driven souls. I pray for our dear Christian brothers and sisters worldwide.

We received an invitation to my cousin-in-law's, Ruth, 90th birthday party in Kentucky next month. Our daughter and son-in-law live in Georgia and only 6 hours from my cousin, so we decided to attend. We'll stay at our daughter's home, visit all day on a Saturday, drive to Kentucky on Sunday to the party, drive back to our daughter's and return on Monday. I am very excited as I have only met Ruth and her youngest daughter, so I have a lot of cousins to meet for the first time. Wish my mom could go because they are her cousins also, but she just isn't up to a trip. My prayers are for us to have a safe journey and a heartwarming visit, which I know it will be.

What am I thinking about?

Too many things to write about, so for now they must continue to roam around in my busy thoughts. My dreams lately have been very intense and I think about them throughout the day. That tells me that I go to bed with a lot on my mind and they manifest in my dreams. They aren't nightmares like one of my friends has and has to take some kind of medication for them. I never knew there was such a medication, but now I know. Amazing what they come up with these days, or it's something that has been out a long time, but I am just ignorant about that fact. I pray for those who have a problem with sleeping because it can cause health problems.

GOODNIGHT! KAREN

The days tumble by so fast
They tend to mesh together
Into an unyielding lump
Faster and faster it goes
Down the hill of our life
Bumping along, picking up this
Losing a little of that
Taking and giving
Losing and gaining
Hardened in some places
Softened in others
Always moving
Never resting
Down
Down
Down
Finally coming to an abrupt halt
Against its last unyielding encounter
Cracking wide open to reveal
Its true self
Finally knowing
Where its final destination
Will be!

Who am I to tell anyone
If they are wrong or right?
Who am I to voice my opinion
As they journey toward dark or light?
Who am I to criticize
Anyone else's life?
Who am I to comment
On their daily strife?
Who am I to judge
Anyone upon this earth?
Who am I anyway
Someone special by birth?
Who am I to acknowledge
You have a certain place?
Who am I to wonder
About your earthly race?
Who am I to care
What happens to you?
Who am I to accept
That God's Word is true?
Who am I to stand by
When someone makes a mistake?
Who am I to show concern
For their eternity sake?
Who am I to step up
And tell them right from wrong?
Who am I to help them seek
Where they should belong?
Who am I to sit and listen
Hearing their anguish cry?
Who am I to answer
Their tearful question, "Why?"
Who am I some pious being
Who cares enough to say?
Who am I to be so bold
As to share her faith each day?
Who am I to feel their pain
To try to ease their sorrow?
Who am I to take a chance
And leave it till tomorrow?
Who am I to keep away
And turn a deafened ear?
Who am I to tell my God
I do it out of fear?
Who am I to presume
Responsibility is not for me?
Who am I to feel so superior
I forget I'm here for Thee?
Who am I to never take time
To pray for others
Who am I to sit idly by
Leaving the work for my Sisters and Brothers?
Who am I to think such thoughts
As many are searching and crying?
Who am I to turn my back
Never even trying?
Who am I upon this earth
Wondering why I am here?
Who am I to struggle so
When my God is always near?
Who am I to ever think
I could do anything without HIM?
Who am I to thank
For my blessings filled to the brim?
Who am I to ever consider
That there is any other way?
Who am I going to worship
On this beautiful Lord's Day?

On the first day of school the kids gave to me, A COUGH RIGHT IN MY STARTLED FACE!

On the second day of school the kids gave to me, TWO DAILY SNEEZES and a COUGH RIGHT IN MY STARTLED FACE!

On the third day of school the kids gave to me, THREE GREAT BIG HUGS, TWO DAILY SNEEZES and a COUGH RIGHT IN MY STARTLED FACE!

On the fourth day of school the kids gave to me, FOUR TOOTHLESS SMILES, THREE GREAT BIG HUGS, TWO DAILY SNEEZES, and a COUGH RIGHT IN MY STARTLED FACE!

On the fifth day of school the kids gave to me, FIVE..... STICKY..... FINGERS, FOUR TOOTHLESS SMILES, THREE GREAT BIG HUGS, TWO DAILY SNEEZES, and a COUGH RIGHT IN MY STARTLED FACE!

On the sixth day of school the kids gave to me, SIX UNTIED SHOES, FIVE..... STICKY..... FINGERS, FOUR TOOTHLESS SMILES, THREE GREAT BIG HUGS, TWO DAILY SNEEZES, and a COUGH RIGHT IN MY STARTLED FACE!

On the seventh day of school the kids gave to me, SEVEN PLAYGROUND ROCKS, SIX UNTIED SHOES, FIVE..... STICKY..... FINGERS, FOUR TOOTHLESS SMILES, THREE GREAT BIG HUGS,TWO DAILY SNEEZES, and a COUGH RIGHT IN MY STARTLED FACE!

On the eighth day of school the kids gave to me, EIGHT I LOVE YOU'S, SEVEN PLAYGROUND ROCKS, SIX UNTIED SHOES, FIVE..... STICKY..... FINGERS, FOUR TOOTHLESS SMILES, THREE GREAT BIG HUGS, TWO DAILY SNEEZES, and a COUGH RIGHT IN MY STARTLED FACE!

On the ninth day of school the kids gave to me, NINE SQUIRMING LIZARDS, EIGHT I LOVE YOU'S, SEVEN PLAYGROUND ROCKS, SIX UNTIED SHOES, FIVE..... STICKY..... FINGERS, FOUR TOOTHLESS SMILES, THREE GREAT BIG HUGS, TWO DAILY SNEEZES, and a COUGH RIGHT IN MY STARTLED FACE!

On the tenth day of school the kids gave to me, TEN TRIPS TO THE NURSE, NINE SQUIRMING LIZARDS, EIGHT I LOVE YOU'S, SEVEN PLAYGROUND ROCKS, SIX UNTIED SHOES, FIVE..... STICKY..... FINGERS, FOUR TOOTHLESS SMILES, THREE GREAT BIG HUGS, TWO DAILY SNEEZES, and a COUGH RIGHT IN MY STARTLED FACE!

On the eleventh day of school the kids gave to me, ELEVEN GLOWING FACES, TEN TRIPS TO THE NURSE, NINE SQUIRMING LIZARDS, EIGHT I LOVE YOU'S, SEVEN PLAYGROUND ROCKS, SIX UNTIED SHOES, FIVE..... STICKY..... FINGERS, FOUR TOOTHLESS SMILES, THREE GREAT BIG HUGS, TWO DAILY SNEEZES, and a COUGH RIGHT IN MY STARTLED FACE!

On the twelfth day of school the kids gave to me, TWELVE REASONS FOR CHOCOLATE, ELEVEN GLOWING FACES, TEN TRIPS TO THE NURSE, NINE SQUIRMING LIZARDS, EIGHT I LOVE YOU'S, SEVEN PLAYGROUND ROCKS, SIX UNTIED SHOES, FIVE..... STICKY..... FINGERS, FOUR TOOTHLESS SMILES, THREE GREAT BIG HUGS, TWO DAILY SNEEZES, and a COUGH RIGHT IN MY STARTLED FACE!



AND HOW WERE YOUR LAST TWELVE WEEKDAYS SPENT???????

KAREN

PS. This is dedicated to my fellow Kindergarten Teacher Assistants & Teachers: Gladys, Virginia, Claudia, Tracy, Jeannette, Patty, Marcie, Jamie, Bonnie & Stacey!

I have been so busy with all of my busy stuff that I didn't realize how long it had actually been since I had posted.

Let's see! What have I been up to?

Our oldest daughter and her two little ones spent the weekend with us. She had been so sick with mono and she's finally feeling better.

Our little Jordyn will be 5 on October. I can tell she is getting older because she told me several times that things that she loved doing with me before are now boring, like looking at the stars. But in the next breath she wanted to go to the back door to see the stars and make a wish, so I haven't lost her after all! We played Kindergarten and Restaurant. She's always busy with her busy stuff as well, although most of hers is make believe.

Landon is 7 1/2 months now and oh such a boy. Exploring constantly. He is so cute that he just melts our hearts with his big blue eyes and precious smile. He has his first tooth and always sticking his tongue out feeling it.

Our other daughter, Amy, who had surgery to hopefully cure her sleep apnea is doing well and is on the mend.

Yep, I have lost 25 pounds, but the last five pounds are really pesky by coming and going, but hopefully they will soon stay off, so I can work on the next 25 pounds. We are still in a drought situation, so it has been so extremely hot and every place feels like a sauna, which isn't a real bad thing, because I figure I might just sweat those pesky pounds away.

I still walk to the lake, which is now more like a mud puddle, every chance I get, which hasn't been too many lately. Poor ducks at the lake. I said a long prayer there yesterday for rain. Maybe we'll get lucky and a hurricane will come our way. We are only 90 miles from Houston and they have had some floods and we get lightning and not a drop of the wet stuff.

Well, school actually got off to a pretty good start. Already 9 days under my belt. We finished doing vision screening on the Kinders. We have a very interesting group this year. Every year each class seems to have a certain personality of its own. I have already taken the jumprope outside at playbreak and they are enjoying it. The majority have never jumped rope before, which amazes me since that was one of our favorite past times when I was a kid. Too bad the kids these days don't get introduced to the simple things in life like we were. But of course, I would have embraced the chance to be on a computer when I was a kid, yet so glad they weren't available to us.

This weekend is our Labor Day Weekend County Fair, with a parade on Saturday downtown which goes right by the video store where I work. It usually always rains during fair weekend, so hopefully we'll get some.

I hope everyone had a great summer!

Karen