Princess Emily

Here is the latest picture of Emily. It is my favorite. We took her to the photography place and she was quite the ham. So much fun!

Field Trip today!

One of my favorite things about teaching fourth grade in South Carolina is the social studies curriculum. I get to teach from Berengia, all the way to the end of the Civil War. Challenging? Yes. But totally worth it. How fun is it to learn about the Rev. and Civil war, only to jump on a bus, drive 60 miles north, and actually tour a plantation home and actual slave quarters? On top of that, the place we're going today has actual battle trails from the Rev. war. Awesome!

So yes, I did wake up fifteen minutes before my alarm, and unable to get back to sleep, I am totally ready for school 45 minutes early. I do still get anxious and excited about a field trip just like I hope my ten year olds do. I do lay in bed the night before and play through everything in my mind to make sure that it will be a great trip. I do TOTALLY love my job. Nerd? Maybe. But I'm down with that.

This is your life...

You know that song about asking yourself if this life is who you want to be? Well that is me this week. More than a few times I reflected at the end of my day and caught myself thinking things like, "I really don't want to be a mom who relies on Little Ceasars for dinner so often." Or "I really don't understand why I took that tone with Scott."

So then I ask the question about circumstances. I feel like my frustrations and attitude are a result of these circumstances. Are they circumstances beyond my control? Or can I make some changes to avoid the circumstances that have shown results of a me that I don't want to be in specific instances?

A couple of months ago my life group at church did a study that focused on margins. The very basic premise was that relationship happens in the margins. It is in those margins that we are able to handle the unexpected. Whether that is referring to time, money, or whatever. So if we don't have some sort of margin in our life, we get stressed out when the unexpected happens.

This totally makes sense to me, and I pray that I will continue to reflect and see those areas that I want to improve by improving my circumstances. Maybe I need to spend the weeknights with less activities so that we are calmer, not rushed, and ready to go the next day? Maybe I need to say no to play dates or dinners out with friends so that we can have more time the three of us? Life at home is not bad. I think that I may need to spend more time just being here, and having more margin.

Feels like home

Tried out this place today. We were in West Columbia picking up my new cel phone from FedEx, and decided that it was a perfect time to go. The entire place reminded Scott and I of a cafe that could sit right on Olive St. and do so well in the Tower. It was completely decorated with local artist's pieces and had a simple, yet delicious menu. The place is known for its "hangover hash browns" that were written up in Sunset magazine a couple years back.

I had a half sandwich and cup of soup. Soup was curry lintel, and probably one of the best soups I have ever had. Now I feel compelled to find a recipe and try it at home. Scott had a great sandwich too but Emily, who ironically always finds the best dishes on the menu, got a breakfast sandwich on a croissant that was too good.

We followed dinner by splitting a huge piece of chocolate cake with milk for Em and coffee for Scott and me. The day was misty and overcast, and the ambiance of the place combined with that soup and coffee made my day. We will surely go back again. Its so nice to find a place like that when you least expect it!