"Did it think you were its Daddy?" -- Bob

Here's Andy, happily holding a baby Black Vulture. We also call them Vulgars, but actually, they are beautiful and interesting animals. One of their defense mechanisms is to vomit all over the would be villan as this one did to Andy. I asked him if it prepared him for parenthood (since we've been talking about the baby time table), since the thing was ugly, helpless, and barfed all over the place... he said yes. :)

Max is here!

Meet my new nephew, Maxwell Boone Cooper, born the 16th at 10pm and who is 8 lbs and 21 inches long.
Proud parents: my bubba, Jacob, and his lovely wife Kimberly.
I can't wait to see him!

bunny love

my first two bunnies and my first embroidery attempt!

Audrey Della Beall, our niece, is born

proud parents: Andy's sister Emily and her husband Joe.
Yes, weird, huh, another Emily loves the name Audrey. Too bad she got to it first, but what a lovely baby to bestow with that lovely name.

blog on hiatus

I'm just too busy with school. I'll start up over the summer because then I'll hopefully be making crafty things for Maxwell, my soon-to-be-born nephew, and my even-sooner-to-be-born, but as of yet unnamed niece, and little miss Gracie Hamilton and will want to show them (the toys and the cutie-pies) off.

buying things ethically

check this out:
http://tradeasone.com/

good day

I have "walking pneumonia" and my students were wackos today, but I'm having a good day.
One of my kids who hardly ever does any work besides studying his eyelids came after school today and did his entire review for the exam. I was so proud of him.
And Andy and I have been getting along well, which really helps my outlook on things.
I finally bought a new trashcan -- the metal kind that doesn't stain like our old one did. I've been waiting for one since last April, I know that sounds silly, but we just never got around to saving that extra $30 when we had so many other things to save for.
I want to write more, but it is going to have to wait until later.
I hope everyone is well.
Oh, that reminds me. Please pray for my friend Jamie's sister who was in a serious car wreck and I think her neck is broken. Their father is trying to get a flight home from Japan so her mom is all alone. Please pray for Jamie's sister and mom.

"shut down to a whisper"

I'm feeling quiet tonight, so it is funny to me that I felt like writing.
Andy's at Damage Inc. practice. They've made a DVD that he loves to show off if you're interested.
As soon as I can figure out how to make the clips into managable sizes I'll post it here.
Well, my momma bought me a new sewing machine (the last one she gave me on my 11th birthday and I still had it) and I made a pillow tonight on it. It's very cute. It was a trial run for all the stuffed bunnies and turtles I'm about to make for the slew of babies that are about to be born into my family.
So far my sister-in-law Emily is having a girl in March. My cousin, Elizabeth, is having a boy, Cooper Knapp, in Feb. and my big brother's wife is having a boy the day after my birthday in April, his name will be Maxwell Boone Cooper. Cool name, huh. very Texan to me.
I'm listening to A Fine Frenzy and it makes me feel alone.
Kinda like Radio Head or Tori Amos used to make me feel.
I went back to school today. I was surprised to see that some of my students may have actually missed me. I was crabby by the end of the day so my poor 7th hour was dealt with harshly, but they need a kick in the pants.
Andy and I have done a complete overhaul of our house. We've gotten rid of probably a third of our belongings (I let go of 11 pairs of shoes... I was ashamed to know that I had so many to let go of! One pair I forgot I had!) and have begun being more GREEN. Why? Well, because as the bumper sticker says (if you see one rip it off for me) "God is Green." We've always felt that living simply is better for our checkbook, but we didn't realize how much it impacted our poor neighbors, you know the other 90% of the population.
So, if you'd like, I'll mail you a copy of "Serve God, Save the Planet" or if you're the theological type (I'm not, I prefered the practicality of the first title) I'll mail you "For the Beauty of the Earth." OR better yet, Inter-Library loan them from your local library. I'll tell you how to do that if you need help.
I'm out of words and it's past 9. I'm sick with a old bad cold and I'm worn out from talking to more than one human being in a day. Breaks are good, but I have anxiety when I have to get back out of myself and out of my nest.
God bless you in the new year.
Oh - almost forgot.
My new year's resolution.
May I be a better steward of the blessings God has given me. Especially, my time, my health, my family, my friends, energy, food, the Earth.
I love you, God. I love you. Thank you for your abundance and please keep me from taking advantage.

cookie fun yum yum

Audi and I made this cookies the other weekend when she came up to visit.

my momma

http://www.jointhejourney.com/Traveler-s-Log.26.0.html?&tx_watermarktravelers_pi1%5BshowUid%5D=1080&cHash=85d3c35d52

please consider helping me and my kids

https://www.legacymissions.org/ambassador.php?aid=183

finally some sense

"But here's a question worth considering: Why does Pullman have this wrongful impression of the church in the first place? Could it be that he's encountered arrogant, judgmental Christians? Could it be, to some degree, Christians' fault?

At any rate, no, don't be afraid. The gospel will survive the publishing phenomenon of Pullman's trilogy—and any movies that come from it—without so much as a scratch. It's not worth getting all worked up about it."

Christianity Today

Thanksgiving

I'm having a good Thanksgiving. It's nice to be in Dallas and get away from thinking about insane 14 year-olds.
Let's see... I'm also thankful for:
1. Andy
2. my family
3. my friends
4. for God being Himself
5. for books
6. my health
7. for music
8. food! Not including gross green bean casserole or dressing.

I'm making my first buttermilk pie tomorrow -- so exciting. I'm just so very happy to not be around any preteens. Besides Caroline, Andy's sister. She's a fun preteen.
I hope you're having a great day too.

ugh.

Teaching is the pits!
Some of my 8th graders couldn't identify a verb! A VERB!!!!!
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

seizures scare me

I'm sure they scare everyone, but I feel so helpless and useless and angry when they happen to other people.
Daphne had seizures when she was little and it terrified me. I would hold her while her body jerked and she peed on herself.
(And she's a DOG for goodness's sake -- I never imagined seeing it happen to a boy in real life!)
Today while I was on bus duty a boy (in freezing cold weather with no coat on) had a seizure. He's known to do this from time to time but I had only witnessed the aftermaths. Today I was walking in a line with four other boys and he just dropped to the ground. On of the boys said, "Oh God, Devin is having another seizure." I told him to run to the office and tell them. Thank God that Devin was walking on the grass and not on the curb where I was. He is a very big guy and his seizure was violent. I tried to keep his head on the grass not knowing if I was making him uncomfortable by moving the hair out of his face and keeping my hands on him. Was he embarressed? Scared? Ticked off that this was happening at school again? It scared me. I kept thinking "what if this boy were my son, how would I feel? what would I do?" I wanted to hold this huge boy in my arms and tell him that I hated what was happening to him and wish it were me instead. But he's almost a man and I'm not allowed to do those things. I'm not entirely sure how I feel now that it is all over, but I know it is still bothering me.

it's just going to get into a ridiculous Russian doll situation

why? why? why exactly?

you're my holiday

It's Fall break. Monday and Tuesday night I worked 12 hours at school with the regular school hours and then parent/teacher conferences. Mostly, it was okay. I only had one parent who accused me for her child's problems... that was depressing, but interesting also because as the coach down the hall sang, "spotted dogs have spotted puppies." I hope that isn't always true and I still think that kids are responsible for their own choices (something I've had to deal with in my own life when I wanted to blame my parents or my situation), but it was interesting to see students with their parents... veeeeeeeeeeeeery interesting.
Now I've got five days off including the weekend and I'm wasting the day. It's nice but I'm a little lonely b/c Andy is out of town. But he'll be back tomorrow just in time for his Metallica tribute band's premire. I'm going to make a groupie t-shirt tomorrow with a skull on it. It's going to be awesome. ;)
I PROMISE I'll upload a video on youtube of the show.
For now I'm sitting in my sweats wrapped in a quilt drinking Sam's Choice raspberry flavored water and watching old Ugly Betty episodes. I want my husband home.

that stinks

"Starbucks drinks are notoriously high in calories, and their autumn special is no exception. The Venti Pumpkin Spice Latte weighs in at 510 calories and 20 grams of fat." MSN Health

bummed for dumb reasons

It will probably seem silly to you.
But I get depressed when friends of mine get pregnant.
I rejoice with them, but I'm jealous too. Not in a malicious way, but in a bummed way.
I want so badly to be at that stage of my life. And I'm often frustrated with God and Andy for keeping me from it. I know that's stupid. But emotions aren't logical most of the time.
And this friend is pregnant with twins. Twins! :(