Can you say Warm Fuzzies????

Crystal & I passing the time at Parent Teacher Conferences.......

My "daughter" Talisa and I killing time in 4th Block...............

This past week (actually past month) has been absolutely amazing for me !!!! Even though we were at Parent-Teacher Conferences, my friend Crystal and I were happy. I was really happy because Jerry had an unexpected evening free and we were going to do something after I got done. Thanks to a friend at school, Joshua was going to spend the nite with her, so I wouldn't have to worry about what time I got home. Jerry and I ended up meeting in Clinton, grabbing some Wendy's chicken nuggets, and heading to Norris Dam State Park. We had a wonderful time as always. We have grown closer and I felt it was time for me to tell him "my story". I was waiting for the right time, not wanting to scare him off........This man is amazing and caring and everything in between. He was not scared off and doesn't think I am a freak. He said it explained some of the things I had said or done and was thankful I trusted him and NO, I didn't scare him off. I will remember that conversation and how he treated me that night for as long as I can. As our evening ended, we knew it would be another week before we would see each other again. He had a trip planned with his buddies for the weekend and was so excited to be going. BUT on Friday, I got another expected e-mail from him.............. his trip was cancelled and he had the weekend free and wanted to know if I wanted to spend it with him....... DUH, heck yeah. So we had a wonderful weekend together. We went to Ozone Falls and Frozen Head State Park on Sunday........... yes, I went hiking, a leisurely stroll for him, a workout for me. I love being with him and love being outside and experiencing everything it has to offer. I was told on Sunday if we were going to keep seeing each other, I would have to invest in hiking boots. Apparently Adidas tennis shoes are not proper attire for the great outdoors!!!!!!! I will also be "tested" in the hunting department. Hunting season starts today and that is where Jerry is today. Sitting perched in some tree attempting to harm deer...... fine with me. After what Daisy Doe did to my car this summer, I say kill them all !!
Neither one of us knows what the future holds, but we both care about each other, are taking it date by date, and know how the other one feels. We have great communication skills and I can totally be myself........something I haven't had before........ and yes, I am rambling. I am happy to have someone, whom I never expected and was definitely not planning on, to be in my life. I would never had imagined we would still be together after that first date/meeting on July 10th.......... Life does sneak up on ya sometimes, when you are least expecting it. I am having to balance school, being a aunt/parent, and now having a boyfriend. Joshua has been amazing and understanding about Jerry. He has told me for so long that he wants to meet the person who makes his Aunt Carol so happy. I don't know when that will be. I want to meet Jerry's girls before I have him meet my family. To both of us, that is the next big step. He is a huge part of my life and am thankful he is the last person I think about at night and the first one in the morning and pretty much all thru the day................... and yep, I am rambling and happy, happy, happy.
Here are some pictures from Sunday.............

Jerry telling me to put down my camera on the way down to the bottom of the waterfalls.

Jerry down at the bottom of Ozone Falls

My great self portrait at Frozen Head....... check out the waterfall in between our heads...... Am I good or what???? Check out my blue-eyed cutie in his stellar safari hat!!!

Thanks for checking on me............... Taking life One Day At a Time.............

Up"Dates" and Straight up Bored .........

Sorry I haven't updated in a while......... I am waiting for the Parents to say something at any moment, so I thought I would beat them to the punch !!!
I have been busy being Aunt Mommy............... which is going well. Joshua is loving school and doing well in all his classes. He is slowly, but surely making new friends. We have settled into our daily routine. Maddi still likes Joshua better ........... I am just the one who feeds and waters her. I have discovered that if Joshua oversleeps, Maddi enjoys leaping on him and licking his ears. He doesn't enjoy it as much as she does. I love watching him play hide n seek with Maddi. He cracks himself up and I just sit back and laugh at them both........ Joshua hiding and Maddi pacing back and forth trying to find him............ They both make me smile.
My Aunt Carol (yes there is another Carol Stratman) , Uncle Chuck, and cousin Christopher came in for the Bristol race. We all met at the Mellow Mushroom for dinner........... It was great to see them.

Aunt Carol and Uncle Chuck

Mom and Daddy

Christopher and Isaiah

Joshua and Grandma

Arissa and I

Goofy Girls (Anne on Pain meds)

Joseph and the back of Kamry (Talk about Goofy)

Anne had her surgery August 29th and is recovering slowly. I believe she is off the demoral and can now remember events and facts told to her. I have spent the last week and a half hearing and telling the same details. It is something to look back and laugh at eventually.

Apparently I didn't scare Jerry off after our 4 wheeling adventure. We went on our first real Date last Saturday. We went to dinner and a movie. Of course it was fun !!! We had time to kill before our SuperCheesy movie and I got my butt kicked at Air Hockey..........This past Thursday evening we met for dinner and bowling (my arms and legs are still feeling the effects). I do have to brag and state that I was somewhat better than he was at bowling. I didn't get beat until the last 2 frames. By that point my arm was spaghetti.......... He has mentioned Golf for something to do Next........ I hoping he is talking about the kind of golf that involves windmills and clown faces, and not golf carts and the open fields. I don't care what we do. We enjoy each other's company and that is all that matters at this point. Time will tell and that is perfectly fine with me.

After attending a very HOT little league football game to watch Kamry and Arissa do their cheer dance, I came home and realized that I had nothing to do but grade papers. I didn't want to do that, so I dragged out the straightener and camera and straightened my hair. Boredom had definitely set in. I had no plans............... no date (Jerry has his girls this week)........ no nothin !!!! This is the finished product. At least I know my hair can look decent straight, or curly. I like it both ways.....................

(I know you are thinking, "Get this girl a life, self-portraits????"
Thanks for checking in................... until my next post....................

The Busy But Happy Puddle Splasher : )

The Heat is on......

***** Happy 57th Birthday to my Daddy !!!!! *****
As we began last week, it looked like it would be our first full week of school and it started Monday with Parents Night ....... yes, stay all day and then chat with parents from 5 - 8. I thought I would be bored and maybe have a few parents stop by. I ended up staying quite busy and was pleasantly surprised at the number of parents I met. One of my favorite parents was Kathy : ) She appeared to be frazzled and nervous as she entered my classroom. Gimme a break...... it's just me. Well, she was nervous, because she had never been inside the school and was apprehensive about meeting Joshua's teachers. Mr. Reeder (science) was her first stop and they chatted for a while. I am not sure about what. Being that she knows him b/c he is Yvette's husband probably entitled them to some socialization. Her next stop was Mrs. Human. Oh, Mrs. Human. She is a different kind of person, a decent teacher, but just plain different. Kathy spent a little bit in there and then finally came to talk to Joshua's big, bad, Math teacher, his Aunt Carol. Well that little visit lasted a mere five minutes and she was asking where Ms. Michele's room was (they are friends) ........ that was the last time I saw her until it was time to leave. Yes, she spent approximately an hour socializing with Kim and Michele in elementary land............ I am so feelin the love..................... Joshua and I were glad she could come.

Tuesday we got out at 1:00 , as we did the remainder of the week, due to temperatures in the upper 90's, non-airconditioned buses, and many (around 50 county-wide) classrooms without AC units that work. Joshua hadn't been feeling well. I thought it was allergies. At 11:30 that evening, I was literally jolted awake to "Aunt Carol, I have a nose bleed....." and he wasn't lying. Sure enough, I was cleaning up blood and a teenager and getting the nose to stop bleeding. Good times.........................

Wednesday, we had decided to go to Knox. for some errands. Joshua complained of his ears hurting, so I called Kathy and asked about the doctor and we were off to the walk-in clinic and being diagnosed with an ear infection. Go Aunt Carol.......... CHaching........ visits to Grandma, Kathy, gas station, and Walmart, we were on our way home.

Thursday was boring and hot and boring. I unexpectedly didn't feel so well. I will suffice it to say that my lower back was hurting and I was cranky.

Friday was crazy...... I had bus duty on a morning when they are re-doing the gym floors and flipflopping our schedule. Those kids didn't know whether to scratch their watch or wind their butt. I was beyond ready to come home. An hour nap later and I was still pretty useless. It was okay, b.c i needed to get to bed early for my 4 AM wake-up to meet a friend for a day of four-wheeling in the woods.

So yesterday was my first experience going 4 wheeling. Thank the Lord I was with a seasoned professional. I so would have gotten lost. I am not sure I would even know how to drive that daggum thing. After meeting Jerry (a new friend) at 6 in the morning, gassing up the truck, getting supplies for the day, and eating at Cracker Barrel, we were in the woods by 8:30. I had already done more in 2 and half hours than most people do in a day..... : ) I was okay and knew I was safe as safe could be, but then I had to go potty. So many thoughts ran through my head...... where do I squat, how do I politely ask for the toilet paper and most importantly, please don't let me go to the potty on myself. By the 3rd time, I was such a pro. No problems. We rode around for hours .......................................

taking breaks looking out over various overlooks,

driving through misc. mud puddles,

driving over huge rocks like it was nothing,

laughing, snacking, talking, and eventually flinging mud on each other. By this point, I was already pelted with some sort of berries from some random foliage that we passed, hit and they so politely splattered all over my shorts. I don't think Shout is going to save them at this point. It was worth it b/c I had fun, learned alot, got to experience something I never had, and had the opportunity to get to know Jerry a little better. I hope I don't scare him off and he asks me to go again.

I was however dissappointed in the lack of water. It is sad that we haven't had enough rain to supply the waterfall we saw that looked like trickles of water instead.

We got back to my car about 6:45 and I was on my way home. Exhausted and dirty..........................................

The Exhausted Mud Puddler........

Firsts...............

Joshua and I have survived our first week together under the same roof, but not without some memorable moments for Me and him ..................

Tuesday I ventured in to Crock Pot Land, throwing chuck roast, corn, carrots, new potatoes, and beef broth in it before leaving for my teacher work day. We had errands to run so when I came home, I noticed this smell as soon as I walked into the house........... what was the smell you ask? It was DINNER........... yes, fully cooked, semi-healthy, mouth-watering food. Josh was so excited and said that it was delicious and I did great, since I don't cook........ THIS IS A FIRST

Wednesday was our first day of school. Josh spent his half-day with the 7th graders b/c we thought he would be held back. We came home, only to have to go back up to school so that I could have a meeting with the powers that be to see if Joshua could be promoted to the 8th Grade. I have always been the classroom teacher on the other side of the table. That day, I was the Parent.................. THIS IS A FIRST

Thursday was another momentous occasion............ the turning on of the oven. I honestly cannot tell you the last time I turned it on. I made Joshua come into the kitchen in case I needed him to call 911 and to photograph the occasion. The pictures below tell our story of the awesome fish sticks ........

Nothing blew up as I turned on the oven......

Knowing the oven actually works, I place the fish sticks into the oven...........

Yes, due to some apparent item burning off (possibly dust) the smoke alarm went off.........

The finished product...Fish sticks, ala Aunt Carol...they were tasty and ....... THIS IS A FIRST

Since I totally missed the actual first day of school, I thought I would take a picture of Joshua's First day of 8th Grade........... You know technically he was in 7th Grade on Wednesday. Yes, Joshua was promoted to the 8th Grade and with that comes either a blessing or a curse......... The kid will have his Aunt Carol (aka Ms. Stratman) for Math ......... ALL YEAR...... THIS IS DEFINITELY A FIRST

"Hurry up Aunt Carol and take the picture"

"Did I do that?"

Thanks for checking on us and continue to keep my family in your prayers.

I'm Gonna be a Mommy !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Okay, made ya look ................... Before I update what is going on, I will explain the meaning of the title of this blog. I don't anyone freaking out ........... Here it goes......

Memorial Day weekend....... I had been thinking about something for a while, but on a drive to Oak Ridge (I think to get my nails done) something came over me. I can't explain it. I honestly believe it was God talking to me. I had to pray and talk to my family before I could be 100% sure I wanted to take on the task God had handed me. 2 weeks later I was talking to Kathy and then Joshua (her middle child). With support from her and others in my life, Joshua will be going to Oakdale for the school year. He will live with me (and Maddi) from Sunday night to Friday afternoon. I have temporary guardianship of him and as of July 31st, he is officially enrolled in Oakdale School. He and I have spent some trial nights together, cleaning and arranging his room, as well as letting him experience the OCD side of his Aunt Carol. He has seen that I was not kidding when I said "if we can't nuke it, we can't eat it"...... I am hoping to blow the dust out of the crock pot and possibly create healthy meals in the ceramic vat of wonder. I am very positive about the upcoming school year, for me and for him. He needs a break from his current school system and a second chance at success. He is brilliant and I want him to prove to himself how well he can do. I know it is a huge undertaking. I have weighed all the pro's and considers. There will be ups and downs. I have been through enough to know that not everyday will be roses and that life will hand us thorns along the way. He and I will be going to (different) therapy along the way. Please pray for us and keep us in your thoughts.
I have to thank first and foremost, KATHY.......... she has trusted me with her child, her flesh and blood. I feel blessed that she trusts me to do what she is doing. I can never thank her enough. I hope I don't let her or Joshua down. I cannot imagine how she feels and that part of heart will be empty while mine begins to open more. I know she wants the best for Joshua and for me.
Onto the school year.................. Last week was insane. I attended a "Math" inservice with 5 other peers that ended up not even being about Math. We are, however, School Performance Coaches in our school. We are trained and training to implement small, gradual changes in our school, starting with the classroom. I am excited and ready for them to begin. I have gotten positive responses from everyone I have to suggested changes to so far. My classroom is ready to go. I now need to sit down and start planning for the first weeks of school. My classes are the same........... 6th grade Science and 8th Grade Math. In looking at last year's test scores, I was so excited to see that my kids did so well on the Math. I had my biggest percentage of advance scores I have ever had. My principal was stoked to see how well the middle school Math scores were this past year. Mike, Heath, and I are obviously doing a great job. We needed that encouragement in an age when Mr. Bush wants No Child Left Behind. He should come to the Math department in Oakdale's Middle School.
I know I am missing some things that have been going on, but this is all that is on my mind at this moment. Again, please keep me and my family in your prayers as the school year begins. Thanks for checking in on me and please send Kathy an email to update her blog. (sorry Kathy, it had to be done.)

Carol, Maddi, and Joshua (my newest puddle splasher)