Thankful... oh... so Thankful!

I really love Thanksgiving.  It's one of my favorite Holidays.  Much more so than Christmas or Chanukah.
Thanksgiving is a holiday without airs.  It's simple.  Eat a lovely meal with those you love, be thankful, clean up, and bask in the Thankfulness for a few days.  There's no other Holiday like it.

I love how generous this Holiday makes everyone seem to feel.  Homeless food pantries become full, shut in's get invited for a meal, warm clothing gets donated to those on the streets.  What I truly wish, is that all of us would do this kind of stuff ALL THE TIME... all year long... but Thanksgiving is a great place to start.

I know some of my friends don't believe in God, and I respect their beliefs.  But I will encourage them to just for one second, just for a moment in time, for a nanosecond... to just fathom that someone GREATER than ourselves is watching over us, protecting us, giving and blessing us with the lives we have, the children we have, the roofs over our heads, the smiles on our faces.  JUST FOR A SECOND... and then to just say a little 'Thank You'.  I know those friends of mine believe they are the reason for the blessings, that it comes from them, and their choices alone, that nothing divine is helping them. 

I also know they believe this way because they look around and see so many homeless, hurting, starving, broken people not being helped, or cured, or given shelter.  They see a world where there CAN'T be a God, because if there were... then why doesn't He HELP them?

The only answer I have to that question is... THAT'S WHAT WE ARE HERE FOR.  I believe will all my heart and soul that my Saviour is EVERYWHERE, all the time.  The He is omniscient, omnipresent, omniAWESOME... and he CAN and DOES help everyone, ALL THE TIME...  All. The. Time.

I do not come from the belief system that "God helps those who help themselves"... no... NO... He helps EVERYONE... whether they believe in Him or not!!!  He created EVERYONE in His image, and he loves me as much as He loves the person saying He doesn't exist!  I am no better than anyone else because I love Him, but BECAUSE I love Him, it is my (our) responsibility to help our fellow brothers and sisters that are broken, homeless, and abandoned.  THAT'S what we are here for.  God put US here to do His work.  We can't see Him right now... but we can be seen.  WE CAN DO HIS WORK, to clothe, and feed and be a light to those who don't have as much as we do. 

I love Thanksgiving because it doesn't exist as a holiday of giving things to other people because we can afford to do so.  It exists to feed, and to concentrate on being thankful and giving, and in that spirit, it jolts our minds to be sensitive to the fact that we have SOOOOOOOO much, when others have SOOOOOOO little.

If I may, allow me to make a suggestion this weekend?

Take a little time to go through your closets and drawers this weekend.  Grab a huge bag and start filling it with blankets and clothes and things you haven't used in a long time (a year or two) and keep it in your car.  When you are driving around this weekend, shopping, lunching, laughing and spending... be mindful of the people on the street with the shopping carts as cars, or the family walking down the streets in shorts in cold weather, and hand them your unused items.  Just hand it to them and say... "This is from God, not me... He wants you to know He loves you and will meet your needs... "  If you have some money, buy them some food.  It's such a small, simple gesture... but it's what He wants us to do.

I am so thankful for the roof over my head... I need to stop complaining about how "small" it is.

I am so thankful for my car... I need to stop complaining about how old it is.

I am so thankful for my new job...I need to stop complaining... oh wait... no complaints there yet... LOL

I am so thankful for my kids... I need to stop complaining they don't listen to me... they are teens, they aren't supposed to...

I am to thankful for my Husband... I need to stop complaining that he works too much... he is supporting all of us beautifully...

I am so thankful for my parents...I need to stop complaining they are divorced, and just enjoy them individually.

I am even thankful for my extra layers... I need to stop complaining I'm not losing them fast enough, and continue to love myself where I am.

Be thankful and mindful this Holiday Season...

Much love, health, happiness and prosperity to all...

Sandra

Chick chick chicken!!!

At this very moment... I am sitting in my awesome classroom, waiting to cook chicken.  Doesn't that seem like a fun thing to be doing?

My hubby just left... he brought lunch over to my classroom, since I don't leave at all on Thursdays.  He leaves for HAWAII tomorrow, without me.  I meet up with him next week.  I can't wait for the rest.

 But truth be told, I'm going to miss my class.  I'm rotten.  I didn't want anyone to cook with them but me... so I made up a bunch of stuff for them to do while I'm away, that doesn't involve cooking, so they will miss me bunches... LOL!!!  So I have a test for them on one day, and a recipe writing task on another... isn't that terrible?

Tonight is my last Football meal to cook for my team in the regular season. I'm a little sad.  It's been SUCH a great time.  All the young men are so fantastic.  They REALLY appreciate the food, and the effort put forth by all the parents.  It's a real pleasure to cook for them.

We also had our 2nd Fundraiser this week, and it went really well!  My students ROCKED IT... they even earned Tips!!!

Our next one is December 1, and we are coupling our dinner with the opening of our play... and we are making Meatball Calzones, salads, cupcakes or Cream Puffs... sooo excited!!!

I gotta get to work now to feed these boys...

Here's what's been up!!!

Oy Vay!!!!!

You know what?  I get paid to work 8 hours a week, and I am at "work" about 50 hours... AND I LOVE IT!

I have had sooooo many opportunities for additional income in the past two weeks, it makes me giddy!!!

But enough about work.

I wanna talk about... oh... I don't know... something else... like... OOhhh...I got a new couch and ottoman!!!

Okay... done talking about THAT!...

Now what...

Oh, our 18th Anniversary was on October 17.  It was a fun day.  We went couch shopping, out to lunch, grocery shopping, and came home to a lovely surprise dinner made by our boys... we didn't have the heart to tell them we were stuffed from our late lunch... so we offered to help them eat it all up later that evening.  It was delish!!!

I cook all day, every day... so my life is kinda in a little box these days.  I'm not complaining... it's just different.

I'd LOOOOOVE TO write about the students... BUT I WOULDN'T DARE!!!... Maybe someday when I'm old and gray... (I know, I know... that's NOW!)

Going to Hawaii soon... so there's that!!!

Oak Glen Day Away...

I've made deal with myself.  Since I am putting in WAAAAAAYYY more hours than I am getting paid, partly because I need to clean my school kitchen, and partly because I am the Football Food Mama and need to cook for 60 weekly... that we would go on little excursions on the weekends to break up the "Mom is working, holy cow... now what do we do with ourselves" mentality that seems to have infiltrated my little family.

My kids have NEVER had a Mom that wasn't 100% focused on them, and their needs and wants, and it's been a bit of an adjustment period.  We don't have as much food in the house, their meals are eaten with me at school most of the time, and all the stuff they used to wonder that I did "all day long while home alone" aren't getting done now, and they are feeling the crunch of having to do more than pick up after themselves...
I like that they are kind of longing for the "good old days" and realizing, that I did more than just sit at home, twiddling my thumbs, waiting for the moment I could pick them up from school, and complete my life with their presence.  Sometimes I find myself longing for my "old life" too, when I've been at school too long, and my feet are killing me, and I can't just go put my feet up... don't get me wrong... I have tons of freedom at work... but... I don't have "my house" at work.

Anyway, getting back to our little excursions... we went to Oak Glen last weekend... and here are some shots we took..

 Same smile, same mustache...oy vay... where my wax lady when I need her!!! LOL

I smudged my upper lip to match Williams... that's my story, and I'm sticking to it!!!

It was a very bright day in those mountains... lovely...

I love this shot... he had no idea I zoomed in and caught it, then edited it to b/w.  That's my handsome man!!!

Chillin'

He has such a better, wider smile than I do...

Caught him... aaaahhh... 11... still a boy, almost a teen... good age...

Raspberry picking in Snowline...

All my Men!!!

My sweet Alex... picking raspberries...

This kid just stares into your soul... doesn't he???

Oy... I adore him...

Whew...

It's been a very interesting past couple of months.

As most of you know... my hubby won his election in June, and in July, he took office in his new position as BA of his Union.  With that position, came a new company car, (no more work truck :( and a WHOLE lot of traveling to training seminars.  Lot's of training.  In the past five weeks, he's been to Denver, Washington DC, Reno, San Diego and Arizona.  He's been home a total of 12 days in those past five weeks.  I know... most of you women out there are saying things like... "Oh, poor Sandra...all alone without her hubby... yada, yada, yada..."... But frankly my dears...after 18 years of marriage, his being gone was GREAT!!!... Don't read anything into it that shouldn't be, I wasn't mad at him, and we aren't on the verge of divorce... I'm just an extremely independent person, and having the bed all to myself, and not having to be home on time and not having to do this or that... WAS SOOOO NICE....

He is back now.  The next trip he takes is to Hawaii, and I am going with him on that one... no if's and's or but's about it.

Football is in full swing, and our team has been riddled with injury after injury.  We can't understand it.  I have NEVER seen this many kids get hurt each week.  We  have 14 kids on the DL and we only have 40 players... for both JV and Varsity... so 14 is significant... (We are a small, private school).  BUT... we are having fun, and our coach is AWESOME!!!

I'm having a great time feeding the team.  Each week, my Mom and I, with the help of a host of other Mama's from the team, prepare gourmet, 4 course meals for the entire team and coaches.  No fast food, or restaurant stuff here... just good, old fashioned, homemade grub.  This week is Pasta and Meatballs, garlic bread, roasted veggies, salad, fruit and dessert.  Good stuff...

Alex is in football too.  He's the Quarterback on his Jr. High team.  They don't win much, but he makes at least 2 touchdowns a week.  Next year, all my boys will be at the same school, and two will be on the High School Team together... such fun!!!!

I love teaching more and more each day.  I have learned so much from my time teaching. Next semester will be my proving grounds.

Well... I'm tired... I'm gonna watch The Amazing Race and fall asleep...G'night.

It's been a full month now... and...

It's been a month now.

A month that I've been an actual 'WORKING MOM' after staying home with my men for the past 16 years.

I've done a little crying (mourning over my past life of 16 years, and the freedom I had) and a whole LOT more laughing (I'd forgotten who I WAS, OUTSIDE of being a Mom... and discovered I still HAVE A SENSE OF HUMOR!!!)

The idea for this post came from my friend  Lori's blog post.  She and I are in VERY similar boats... almost identical in fact... and it hit home for me...

I forgot how much I loved working.  It's so true when they say "If you do what you love, you never "work" a day in your life".  I. LOVE. TEACHING.  I ADORE MY STUDENTS...
Graduation is going to be a COMPLETELY different experience... when I am not only crying happy tears for one child, but 50 of them... I'm going to have to bring a TRUCKLOAD of tissue...

I only teach one class a day... but I find  myself hanging out at the school much longer.  I forgot how much fun it is to talk to other adults.  I LOVE that I get to see my kids so much DURING SCHOOL... they frequently come into my classroom to scrounge for leftovers from my class, and to give me a quick peck on my cheek... I love every second of that...

I love that the students call me Mama Shaver.  Mrs. Shaver is my Mother in Law... so Mama Shaver suits me just fine...  I love that they feel comfortable enough to call me that... I really love it.

My health and stamina have increased ten fold.  I'm walking around soooo much more... back and forth from my class to the office, running around my huge classroom, fixing this and washing that... I'm getting stronger, and I'm getting smaller in the process... happily.

I recieved my first evaluation last week and it was AWESOME.  I was nervous.  I LIKED FEELING NERVOUS... I don't usually get nervous about much anymore...Motherhood doesn't allow many chances for second guessing oneself... getting nervous has no place in raising children...
Feeling nervous kept me on my toes.  I loved feeling the butterflies fluttering around my stomach.  It gave me something to strive for.  Something for ME.  It was a weird concept.

For the past 16 years, much of my life with my kids has been spent saying "no" to things they asked for.  Why? Because I am soooo against saying "yes" just so my kids can have what everyone else has.  They got what they needed, and few extra's and no more.  Even when I was making great money in Pampered Chef, I spent much of the money I made on supplies, traveling with the kids, and just odds and ends that needed purchasing... but now... I don't know... I am saying "yes" a little more, and I feel like they are at the right age to have a little splurging done on them.  I feel like now they are old enough to appreciate the gifts and little extra's they are getting... and it feels great.  Don't get me wrong... I am still wholeheartedly against spoiling kids... but a few more "yes's" than "no's" won't hurt anything, now that they know how hard money is to earn and how quickly it dissipates.

I am sooo proud to have been an at home Mama for as long as I was... and even though I only work two hours a day now, I am so happy to be out in the work force again... I truly love my job, and all the students and faculty I get to see on a daily basis...

I love that God has had a plan for me, and the plan is awesome...

Yeah!!!!

Random shots of this or that...

Woo Hoo... it's been a WHILE!!!

Got some pics to share...

Here they come...

No the above DOES NOT say WE 66... it says WEBB... in bread.

Each week, I make our opponents name in bread, and give the football players a little speech about coming up to the table, tearing off a piece of it, and ripping it to shreds, chewing it up... demolishing it ... you know... to get their heads in the game... LOL

Miles of salad each week...



 Alex, our newest quarterback, taking direction from Coach Heuker...

William was captain...

My sweet 64...

Get 'EM, William!!!!

Pasta night...

Fresh homegrown tomatoes, stuffed with mushrooms, onions, and celery, topped with Feta...

My baby boy... getting ready to go hit someone... HARD!!!

I love my class!!!

I have the BEST group of students a teacher could ask for.  They are all enthusiastic, adventurous eaters that seem to really enjoy the whole cooking thing.

We are in our third week of bread making... and so far... no one is tiring too badly from bread... It's just so important to fully learn about a food like bread, rather than skim over it lightly... I want them to REALLY know how to get fresh bread on the table... one day... they may want to make it for their families.

I get such a kick out of seeing the kids light up when they tell me they cooked for their family the night before.  One student told me his Grandpa didn't want to wait for the bread to be separated into individual loaves and just baked the ENTIRE batch of dough all at once...My mind immediately went to that "I Love Lucy" episode when she tried to make home baked bread... too funny.

I feel like the registration people hand picked my class for me... what a blessing... they are all beautiful, inside and out... and the four men I have in class are holding their own very well.

I didn't know how much I would love teaching... I can't imagine NOT teaching now...

Just thought I'd share...

My students are so awesome... I love each and every one of them!!!

I'm obsessing again...

I'm a tad bit overwhelmed.   I get like that from time to time, especially when I start a new venture or there is a lot of change in my life...

The recent changes have been my teaching job (I only teach one class, but I'm gone all day long... why is that?),  and now the opportunity to sell my food after school to anyone milling around for sports, in car pool, and the kids that are required to come into study hall instead of loitering all over campus.

I'm nervous.  Will my food sell?  Will it taste good?  Are my prices okay... I'll make a little money, but not gouge my customers either?  Will I make a profit? yada, yada, yada... my brain needs to STOP!!!

I need to just remember that I can't gage anything UNTIL I TRY IT... and until I TRY it, I can't gage anything... LOL

Last night, I was up late making out my menu and price lists.  I was wracking my brain trying to come up with pretty Italian words to describe my food, and name the food.  I know... I concentrate on the dumbest things... but that's the creative side of me...I like to have things "just so".

I REFUSE to sell chips, soda and junk.  I CATEGORICALLY REFUSE to do so... even though it would be a huge money maker... selling that poison to kids after school will make me lose sleep at night.  No way... no how...  All the food is handmade, with love and know how, and will FEED them, body and soul, not just fill them up with empty calories and fat.

Here's a sample of my menu...

 Breadsticks & Marinara

Freshly made thick crust gourmet pizza

Cookies & Milk

(fresh, fiber filled cookies and 2% milk)

Nutella Sandwiches

Meatballs and Sauce

Artisan Sandwiches

Thick cut bread slice and Honey Butter

Water

Iced Tea (unsweetened)

Milk

That's just a sampling.  How does it sound?  I would allow my kids to buy food after school if it was those choices... I'm also offering salads, veggies and dip, and a host of other goodies, that are highly nutritious.

I hope the parents that work late, will appreciate the effort and encourage their kids to try eating after school while doing their homework, so it can lessen the burden for the parents.  I also hope they give them money to purchase the food.  I get a LOT of kids coming in to my class asking for free food, and it breaks my heart to have to say no... but I can't buy groceries and feed people out of my own pocket... it's hard enough to feed my 3 boys... let alone a bunch of kids at school too...

Ugh... I HATE when I do this to myself... I have self doubt about every other minute... I obsess about it...and really... I just have to realize... I'M NOT CURING A DISEASE... I'M JUST DOING WHAT I KNOW HOW TO DO!!!  It's a small thing in the realm of "things to worry about"... so I just need to STOP!   Right? Make it STOP!!!!

I feel so much better now... having vented to you all...

I think I'll go do my stretching now... and have a nice cup of coffee... and stir my sauce... and get ready for church... and stir my sauce again...and not forget to turn the burner off... and stir the sauce again...

Happy Sunday Everyone!

William is TOPS in my book...

I have to brag.

I know it will prove to be something extremely strange to brag about... but I am just flabbergasted that the event I am going to write about happened tonight...

My two oldest sons got home from school and football practice tonight about 8 p.m..   My Middle son Alex pulled a muscle in his back and wanted me to go to the drugstore to buy him some Icy/Hot... but...
my ankles are sooo swollen from the heat and my monthly visit from Aunt Flo... that I just couldn't bring myself to to get dressed to go out into in a store...

William says... Mom, if you let me drive, I'll go in the store for you, and you can just sit shotgun...

I start to decide whether I can do it, and I remember that I am out of "products" for Aunt Flo's visit...

I say... "Oh honey, you don't have to do that, I need my "products" and I can't ask you to do that for me."

AND HE SAYS....

"Mom, you're not feeling well... I'll go get Alex's Icy/Hot AND I'll pick up your "products" for you"

Did you read that clearly??? MY 16 YEAR OLD SON OFFERED TO BUY MY STUFF FOR ME...
Do you know how long it took my HUSBAND to agree to get those things after we were married?????

HOW FREAKING SWEET, and COMPLETELY SELFLESS was that????

I said... "What? You'd do THAT?"
And he said... "Yeah Mom, if you need them, and you aren't feeling well, I'll do it for you."

I almost fell over from shock.  What a DOLL!!!

and...

HE DID!!!!

He totally walked into that CVS and got the stuff, and came back to the car with absolutely no embarrassment...

He is gonna make an AWESOME hubby someday...

I am soooo blessed...

William... YOU ARE THE BOMB DIGGITY!!!!