Saturday, March 31, 2012
A Wedding
My cousin John married his beautiful bride, Kelly, last weekend in Raleigh. We all stayed downtown and enjoyed walking to each of the events' locations. For the first time ever, all 32 members of the Petty family were together! Of course, I forgot to take my camera with me until the last day at the brunch when I finally remembered to snap a few. Kathryn took many great pictures and when I receive those I will post some of the highlights. So, for now enjoy these:
Friday, March 16, 2012
Building
Thursday, three of my kids decided to spell my name with blocks. No one has ever done this and you might not think it's all that awesome but it made my day! I was highly impressed!!! The "g" was my favorite.
Monday, March 12, 2012
Good Times
Carol, Jen, and I headed down to Charleston to see Anna for the weekend. The first night we stayed up until 3 gabbing but woke at normal time Saturday for breakfast, a walk around downtown, a boat tour, coffee drinking, dinner, and much more talking! So good to be around dear friends.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Monday, February 06, 2012
New Bloom
This is the Christmas cactus that used to belong to my great Aunt Pat. For some reason, it only seems to bloom every few years and there is only a few blooms at a time. Maybe it has something to do with the fact it used to be in a huge pot my 2nd, first grade class painted me that was located on the shelf that my 4th Kindergarten class turned over one day. Lovely day- it was a huge mess of every Math manipulative, buckets, broken clay, and black dirt that could be mixed together. My assistant was out that day and a mom volunteered to help in our room. She never came back...I wonder why?
This makes it more exciting and meaningful when it blooms. Here is the one bloom that showed up this week:
This makes it more exciting and meaningful when it blooms. Here is the one bloom that showed up this week:
Relaxing
The last weekend in January, I headed down to Charleston to spend some much needed time with Anna and Blair. Saturday morning, Anna and I took the pups to the beach. This was Pattie's first time meeting the beach and I believe they are "fast friends"!
I miss seeing them weekly and/or daily, but I believe they are right where they are supposed to be.
I miss seeing them weekly and/or daily, but I believe they are right where they are supposed to be.
Saturday, February 04, 2012
Devotion
Turns out this new church I have been attending also asks members to write a devotional for Lent. So, I agreed again this year. Isaiah 50: 4-9
When I first looked over the scriptures, I was immediately drawn to this one when I saw the word “teacher”. I thought, no problem. I am a teacher and this will be easy to write. Well, here I am one day before it’s due and am just now writing. Sometimes one just needs to wait for the right words to come along.
Everyday we are faced with a challenge. This challenge should be simple to overcome. The way to win this challenge is to set the good example, be the better person, or “kill them with kindness”, as people sometimes say. However, it is not always that simple. We get caught up in the moment. We let our anger control us. We allow ourselves to speak before we think. We forget to “give our back to those who struck me, and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard.” It is not always easy to “not hide my face from insult and spitting.” Our natural reaction is to attack the person that calls us names or hurts our hearts with words. However, when we don’t give our back, give our cheek, or hide our face we are not following God’s example. We are not being the person that God hoped we would be. Sure, we will fail at this challenge. We will forget how to use our kind words, how to take a deep breath, and let the hurtful words flow off our backs. These are the times when prayer will become our biggest reward. We will ask for forgiveness and we will learn from our mistakes; as we know that everyone makes mistakes.
My natural reaction in the classroom is to fix each problem and fix it quickly. I have learned throughout the years that stepping back and listening is the real lesson I can teach. When children come to me with hurt hearts or tears in their eyes, I want to fix the problem immediately. Instead, my job is to teach the children how to deal with the situation. I now stand close and listen as they use their kind words to explain their hurt, ask for forgiveness, and figure out what can be a better choice in the future. They always end their conversation with a hug, handshake, or high five. We always greet each other each morning with one of those choices. Now, I see these given out freely throughout the day. Maybe as adults we need to try this; especially with those who hurt us. When someone insults us instead of using hurtful words back; try giving them a simple hug. Maybe it’s just what they need.
Dear God,
Help us to lead by your example when we are confronted with difficult situations. Help us to use our kind actions instead of our hurtful words. During the times we might forget, help us to learn from others kind examples. Amen.
When I first looked over the scriptures, I was immediately drawn to this one when I saw the word “teacher”. I thought, no problem. I am a teacher and this will be easy to write. Well, here I am one day before it’s due and am just now writing. Sometimes one just needs to wait for the right words to come along.
Everyday we are faced with a challenge. This challenge should be simple to overcome. The way to win this challenge is to set the good example, be the better person, or “kill them with kindness”, as people sometimes say. However, it is not always that simple. We get caught up in the moment. We let our anger control us. We allow ourselves to speak before we think. We forget to “give our back to those who struck me, and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard.” It is not always easy to “not hide my face from insult and spitting.” Our natural reaction is to attack the person that calls us names or hurts our hearts with words. However, when we don’t give our back, give our cheek, or hide our face we are not following God’s example. We are not being the person that God hoped we would be. Sure, we will fail at this challenge. We will forget how to use our kind words, how to take a deep breath, and let the hurtful words flow off our backs. These are the times when prayer will become our biggest reward. We will ask for forgiveness and we will learn from our mistakes; as we know that everyone makes mistakes.
My natural reaction in the classroom is to fix each problem and fix it quickly. I have learned throughout the years that stepping back and listening is the real lesson I can teach. When children come to me with hurt hearts or tears in their eyes, I want to fix the problem immediately. Instead, my job is to teach the children how to deal with the situation. I now stand close and listen as they use their kind words to explain their hurt, ask for forgiveness, and figure out what can be a better choice in the future. They always end their conversation with a hug, handshake, or high five. We always greet each other each morning with one of those choices. Now, I see these given out freely throughout the day. Maybe as adults we need to try this; especially with those who hurt us. When someone insults us instead of using hurtful words back; try giving them a simple hug. Maybe it’s just what they need.
Dear God,
Help us to lead by your example when we are confronted with difficult situations. Help us to use our kind actions instead of our hurtful words. During the times we might forget, help us to learn from others kind examples. Amen.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
My Something
Well, once again this year my resolution was "to do something". It's such a great idea because everyday you do something. It's fail proof! It could be as simple as brushing your teeth, drinking coffee, paying a bill, or it could be bigger like practicing knitting, sewing, or trying a new recipe.
By January 2nd, I already had my "big something" for 2012. I was convinced to attempt the Dupont 1/2 Marathon! So, training officially began yesterday. I rushed from school to go running in the woods with Ann and our dogs. I realized this task was upon me, so Sunday I decided it was time to kick it into high gear. This is when I realized I hadn't actually run since December! I had been walking, but not running. Oops! So, going into this run I had a few butterflies. I just knew I was going to have to stop and walk. However, as I turned the last corner and realized where we were, I knew I had made it! I completed the 5 mile run in the woods with confidence I could do it again. Now as for the 9 or 10 mile run...well, we will just have to see!
So, here's to staying busy in 2012 getting ready for an April race!
By January 2nd, I already had my "big something" for 2012. I was convinced to attempt the Dupont 1/2 Marathon! So, training officially began yesterday. I rushed from school to go running in the woods with Ann and our dogs. I realized this task was upon me, so Sunday I decided it was time to kick it into high gear. This is when I realized I hadn't actually run since December! I had been walking, but not running. Oops! So, going into this run I had a few butterflies. I just knew I was going to have to stop and walk. However, as I turned the last corner and realized where we were, I knew I had made it! I completed the 5 mile run in the woods with confidence I could do it again. Now as for the 9 or 10 mile run...well, we will just have to see!
So, here's to staying busy in 2012 getting ready for an April race!
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Sole Party
I participated in a sole party at church last night. We cut shoes for Sole Hope, a local organization that teaches the trade of shoe-making to African widows as well as people without homes living here in WNC, then delivers the shoes to children living in Uganda and Zambia. So we gathered for pizza first then got down to business. We had a team of tracers who traced the patterns needed for each shoe on old denim and cotton fabric. The next team gathered the material and did the cutting. The third team organized and pinned the pieces together for a shoe. We finally called it quits after 2 hours of working. There is still work to be done, so we are thinking a girls night this week just might get the job finished!
I had a great time talking with everyone and making new connections. I even discovered another family and I had breakfast together about three years ago with a mutual friend that moved. Isn't it really a small world?
I had a great time talking with everyone and making new connections. I even discovered another family and I had breakfast together about three years ago with a mutual friend that moved. Isn't it really a small world?
Friends
For the long weekend, I made my way to the Cary/Apex area. It was a coffee drinking, birthday partying, music hearing, story telling kind of weekend.
Celebrating Mom
January 12th mom celebrated her birthday! I was able to spend a little time that weekend with her. Happy Birthday to my loving, inspirational, and most kind hearted mother.
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Weather
(These were taken with my phone, so not great quality)
This was seen outside our school as I was leaving yesterday. It was a full, double rainbow! That has to be some kind of good luck...right?!
This was my view when I pulled in the parking lot this morning. Again, these pictures don't do the sky justice.
This was seen outside our school as I was leaving yesterday. It was a full, double rainbow! That has to be some kind of good luck...right?!
This was my view when I pulled in the parking lot this morning. Again, these pictures don't do the sky justice.
Monday, January 02, 2012
Sunday, January 01, 2012
2012
Here is a little reading to begin your new year.
http://www.prana.com/blog/2011/12/23/12-things-happy-people-do-differently/
May the new year bring you everything you need! It's going to be a good one!
http://www.prana.com/blog/2011/12/23/12-things-happy-people-do-differently/
May the new year bring you everything you need! It's going to be a good one!
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