Permit Test

Going to DMV to take the permit test is like vomiting. It was very unpleasant, and I didn't want to do it, but once it was over I felt much better. This was advice given to me by a friend and he was right.

I was being driven to take the test today and I just felt so nauseous. My stomach was doing twists and turns and jumping jacks. I just wanted to bail. We finely got to the parking lot (it seemed like an eternity) and I was glad we were finely there. It just felt like I was closer to being done when actually I hadn't even started. Now we got in line to talk to the receptionist and I thought I might burst into tears if she spoke to me. Brian did all the talking for me and I was grateful. I did all I could not to have a break down walking to my seat. The time seemed to pass so slowly but I had only two people in front of me. My hands began to tremble when they called my name. The lady at the DMV didn't care who I was and that helped calm my nerves some. She just told me to go get my picture taken across the way.

I went to the lady with the camera and she told me to smile. Well that didn't go over very well because as some of you know when I smile my eyes disappear. She took three pictures before she realized that. She handed me the test and pointed to the room I am suppose to take the test in. It was the size of a closet. That would have been fine if I was the only one in there. There must have been twenty people squeezed in there. I sat down in the only seat left and proceeded to answer the 36 questions. I kept losing focus though. Two people answered their cell phones and the lady had to yell at them. New people came and went while I was still sitting there. I thought I would scream if it happened one more time. I looked down and I only had six more questions to go. I thought to myself that is the amount I can get wrong and began to panic again.

I finished up the test and took it to the window for the lady to grade. Right then she got up and left and told me to wait a minute. As I stood there I prepared for the worst. I would have to tell my friend that we would need to come back and do this again. That felt tragic so my eyes began to swell and as one tear fell she returned. I got my composure back also and she began to grade it. She circled one thing to ask me later if it mattered and all I could think about was that I had already got 5 wrong. She started typing away at her computer, handed me something to sign, and then proceeded to do a spiel. I didn't hear a word she said. Something about 30 days, I don't know. So after she paused I asked her if I passed thinking she would tell me no but I could come back in 30 days or something, but instead she said YEAH. The women handed me the permit and I bolted for the door. I could not wait to get out of that poisonous place. I stuck everything in my pocket, told my friend I passed, and head outside. Wow the fresh air felt so good! My stomach started to settle down some and I was so excited I wouldn't have to go through that pain again.

SO I PASSED! I have a PERMIT. I only missed 3 questions. The vomit feeling is over for now. I know there is more to come but at least that part is over! Thanks to my good friend that pushed me to do it sooner rather than later. I can't wait to celebrate. I know it seems so silly or maybe 10 years too late but it was one of my big fears that I overcame. At least until the drivers test.

No Time For Cursive Writing

According to the Asheville Citizen Times in North Carolina, teachers are struggling to find time to teach cursive writing:

Every day students in Shannon Fields’ fourth-grade class get a 15-minute cursive lesson.“Loop high, pull down, swing over, anchor off,” Fields instructs his students at Dickson Elementary as they draw the cursive letter “H” on their lined and dotted paper. “Do that three times, and then you can practice on your own.”

Fields realizes how important it is for his students to learn cursive, but, like other teachers, he has a hard time fitting it in to the busy school day. Many teachers are getting creative when it comes to teaching the handwriting style.

It’s an interesting article, and brings up a very good point that many students view writing in cursive as a rite of passage. I definitely agree with that; learning to write in cursive was a huge accomplishment back in third grade.

Yet, I’m still not convinced that teaching cursive really is all that necessary, at least it isn’t if teachers in the upper grades don’t require it. Now, if it was required in the upper grades (and I think a good case could be made for requiring it), then teaching cursive would be absolutely necessary. But since the upper grade teachers actually prefer you to write in manuscript, I just don’t see the purpose behind it. Especially since we need to be teaching math & reading skills to the children. My children are required to learn how to type instead, but only on their own time.

"The call that comes in darkest sleep,
Awakens with a fright;
For 2 am, the silence breaks
The peaceful calm of night.

When only moments earlier,
I dreamt of visions fair;
Of light and love and happiness;
... Till ringing filled the air.

It beckoned me from deepest sleep,
And drew me from my daze;
I shook my head to clear my mind,
Find focus through this haze.

"How long has this been ringing?"
As I reach to find the light;
I steal a glance toward the clock,
And now my heart takes flight!

'Tis many hours before the dawn,
Yet all should be in bed;
My loved ones faces fill the night;
... My heart is filled with dread.

I struggle for composure as
I reach to grab the phone;
My stomach churns, my heart contracts;
"Is all my family at home?"

I stumble as I grasp the handle,
Stifle silent screams;
"Oh God ... please let this phone call
Be a part of just a dream!"

My heart is racing, mind's a whirl,
Receiver's made of lead;
"Oh, how can this be happening!"
"Who's on the other end?!"

Just seconds pass and yet I find
It's been eternity;
I raise the phone to panicked ear;
"Oh please ... don't be for me!"

Crappy Weekend! PART2

OK, I know it's been a week or so, but I just wasn't ready to write this until now. Previously I told you all about our camping trip gone bad. Now I will get to the real reason I labeled this a crappy weekend.
My Grandmother passed away on Sunday in the early morning. I didn't find out until that evening because my family thought we had gone on our camping trip and figured we weren't home yet. So sad! Come to find out, later, my Mother could have used my help. I wish I would have been there for her. My Grandma was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in June. She was 90 years old! For her 90th Birthday party we all went to Yosemite National Park. Grandma has always been very active with busy schedule. At Yosemite she walked to the bottom of the falls and skipped to the tune of the yellow brick road with my Mom and my Aunt on either side. My Grandmother was an amazing women. She loved the Lord with her whole life, serving Him and loving her church! She will be missed greatly! Here are some pictures from her Birthday party in May.

My Grandmother Virginia Clerx

All The Grandkids!

All The Great Grandchildren!

All The Children!

Lyrics I found today

I like these two songs by Casting Crowns. The first one is East To West and the second is The Altar And The Door. I think this is were I'm at in my life. So here it is:







East To West - Casting Crowns

Here I am Lord and I’m drowning, in Your sea of forgetfulness
The chains of yesterday surround me, I yearn for peace and rest
I don’t want to end up where You found me
And it echoes in my mind
Keeps me awake tonight
I know you’ve cast my sin as far as the East is from the West
And I stand before You now as though I’ve never sinned
But today I feel like I’m just one mistake away
From You leaving me this way

Chorus:
Jesus can you show me just how far the east is from the west
‘Cause I can’t bear to see the man I’ve been
Rising up in me again
In the arms of Your mercy I find rest
‘Cause You know just how far the east is from the west
From one scarred hand to the other

I start the day, the war begins
Endless reminding of my sin
And time and time again
Your truth is drowned out by the storm I’m in
Today I feel like I’m just one mistake away
from You leaving me this way

I know You’ve washed me white
Turn my darkness into life
I need Your peace to get me through
To get me through this night
I can’t live by what I feel
About the truth Your word reveals
I’m not holding on to You
But You’re holding on to me
You’re holding on to me




The Altar And The Door
Artist(Band):Casting Crowns

Careless, I am reckless
I'm a wrong-way-travelin'-slowly-unraveling shell of a man
Burnt out, I'm so numb now
That the fire's just an ember way down in the corner of my cold, cold heart

Lord, this time I'll make it right, here at the altar I lay my life
Your kingdom come but my will was done, my heart is broken as I...

Cry, like so many times before
But my eyes are dry before I leave the floor, oh Lord
I try but this time, Jesus, how can I be sure I will not lose my follow through
Between the altar and the door

Here at the altar, oh my world so black and white
How could I ever falter
What You've shown me to be right

I'm trying so hard to stop trying so hard
Just let You be who You are
Lord, who You are in me
Jesus, I'm trying so hard to stop trying so hard
Just let You be who You are
Lord, who You are in me

Oh Lord, I Cry, like so many times before
But my eyes are dry before I leave the floor, oh Lord
I try but this time, Jesus, how can I be sure I will not lose my follow through
Between the altar and the door

Pay back!

Let me just say pay back's a bitch!
Okay, so I deserve it. I jacked with my friends myspace and so I got hacked. This is the funny stuff I took off of my myspace and had to post it because he put so much work into it. Okay, that's not true. It's because poop is funny!



:It's times like these that make me want to poop.
I love poop. It's the best. You have got to come over some time and we can talk about poop

I started pooping when I was very young. I've been a pooper ever since. I love it. Poop is the best ever. Message me if you want to talk about poop.

I also really love poop.

I love all kinds of poop. Cat poop, dog poop, monkey poop, fish poop, bird poop, camel poop, emu poop, tiger poop, elephant poop, and even people poop. If it's poop, I like it.

I like songs about poop.

I like shows about poop

I like books you can read while pooping.

Mr Hankey the Christmas Poo. I want to be like that turd one day.

I would like to meet a giant talking piece of poop


Occupation: Pooper

Crappy Weekend! PART1

My weekend started on Friday. We were supposed to go camping with the cub scouts, but we never made it up to Julian. I packed all day, cooked giant muffins, went shopping for two days prier, had the tent gear stacked by the front door, and when Jonathan got home we stuffed our car with it all. I won't go in to it all, but we ran into some major hick-ups. Now with disappointed children on my hands I had to figure out how to make every one happy. We had to undo everything I did that day. I couldn't hit the rewind button either.

So after Jonathan and I unpacked the car we decided to have a camp out in the backyard. He set up the tent and I made the smores. This was the quiet before the storm. The rest is to be continued.......
Here are a few pictures of the tent making:
PS: Daddy knew Kaitlyn would have to have a pink sleeping bag so he went and bought it all by himself. I'm so proud of him!

FYI smores on a gas stove taste a little funny!