A Precious Gift

As some of you know, I am an avid reader. Words fascinate me. They are the threads that weave stories. Whether it be fiction or non fiction, books hold a special place in my heart.

For 30 some odd years my grandparents David & Harriet Brown owned a bookstore by the name of Brown's House of Books in Amarillo, Tx. When they retired in 1979 (alas I was only 3 and no where near old enough to appreciate it), my grandmother went to work for the Amarillo Public Library system. On school breaks I would go to the library with my grandmother and lose myself in the shelf mazes until she was able to leave. As the only child in a house full of adults, books became my play fellows. Some of my favorite authors are those of the classics: Francis Hodgson Burnett, Charles Dickens, Jack London, & Louisa May Alcott. I had a very active imagination and had no problem occupying myself inside the pages of a book.

Brown's House of Books, Downtown Amarillo, Tx

I will say that I was very fortunate to have my parents, grandparents, and extended family place a high value on literacy. My parents & grandparents read to me incessantly before I could do it myself at the tender age of 5 (honestly I don't remember not being able to read). My extended family fostered my love of reading by introducing me to different authors & genres. I will never forget the Christmas that I received Madeleine L'Engle's "A Wrinkle in Time" series from my Aunt Brenda. I think I was probably around 10 at the time, however it opened my eyes to the sci-fi genre.

Another thing that had a high value placed on it during my childhood was critical thinking. I remember watching the Presidential debates with my grandfather and then having discussions with him about the pros and cons of each candidate. I was always encouraged to look words and concepts up if I was unfamiliar with them. Of course this was in the 80's before the internet became ubiquitous. So I would have to wait till I could go to the library to look all these wonderful ideas and concepts up in the card catalog or Encyclopedia.  I don't ever remember being shut down for asking questions. If it was something I could learn by looking up myself, it was strongly encouraged. If it was something that took a more personal touch, Memaw, Pa, or my mother would explain it to me.

So today I want to take time to thank all of those who fostered my love of reading. It has been a wonderful and lasting gift that has served me well. A most precious gift indeed.

Mrs. Martin

What a month!

Well it's been over a month since I posted on here. School has been crazy busy, lots of new material, and several projects. I'm enjoying it, though I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around the fact that I have less than 6 months until I graduate. It just boggles the mind. I've been in school for so long that I don't know what I'm going to do with myself when I don't have to study.

I worked my first graveyard shifts for peds last month, which was an interesting experience. One night isn't hard, it's when you have multiple days in a row that kick your tail. It was very educational to say the least. I learned that peds might actually be a viable place for me. I know I certainly enjoyed it more than I thought I would. Of course, getting to be precepted at Vanderbilt Monroe Carroll's Children's Hospital didn't hurt my feelings either!
They have some wonderful nurses up there and it was an honor to be there with them. And the patients! Lot's of sweet kids up there.

This month is Critical care in Lebanon. 6 nights (all 12's ) between now and Thanksgiving. I'm really looking forward to the experience, however I will be a very tired student when it's all said & done. Thank goodness break is just around the corner!

175 days left....I don't know whether to be excited or terrified. Success is a scary thing, it means that all those pipe dreams I've had over the years now have a very real chance of becoming reality. Guess it's time to be careful what I wish for!

Who says Facebook is all bad?

I spend a lot of time of Facebook. More than I should actually. However I have found a game in which I don't have to find lost objects, build fictitious farms, or serve fictitious customers. Actually it allows me to play with my kids & hubby on a turn by turn basis. I can do this between classes, while waiting for an appt.  (that is if I have my puter & wi-fi access), or even here at the house like I am tonight.

What is this miraculous game you ask? Words with friends. Nothing spectacular really, it's essentially a scrabble game. The nice thing about this is that you can play multiple people at once, at your own pace, with a dictionary if needed (you know who you are!).

Tonight Kyle, Harlee, and I have been playing. I get a kick out of Harlee sitting over at the computer desk spitting and growling over a word that she can't spell because the letters on the board are in the wrong place. Kyle sits over on the couch with his laptop scratching his head over the letters he has, trying to come up with something. I sit in my chair with my laptop (surveying my kingdom lol) and we have dueling words going between the three of us.

Now some of you might ask why we don't just pull the scrabble game out? Well this way we don't have to wait till I get home and we don't have to worry about missing scrabble tiles ;)

So if you're on Facebook & would like to stretch your brain and get your family to do the same, check it out. You never know what you'll learn next!

It's Music Season!

Today Tanith and Harlee go to Trousdale County to perform in the 1st Marching competition of the season. This is also the 1st year with both of them in High school (I'm still waiting for the inevitable phone call for them fighting with each other).

Here are some pics from the Community meet and greet Thursday night where they performed the show for the community. I'm also posting a link to a local newspaper article: Macon County Times Article

Harlee on the far left

Harlee on the far left in front of the trumpet player

Finally a pic of Harlee that doesn't have her face hidden by the Trombone lol 

Woodwinds & Brass Marching

Field Commander, Drumline, Guard, and Brass 

Tanith & Kasmin

Tanith

Pit

Drumline, Brass, & Woodwinds

Brass

New equipment truck courtesy of the county...isn't it Da Bomb! 

Frustration

Ok, I am at my wits end. My 7 yo has been kicked off of the school bus. I love my child I really do, but I am at a loss on how to teach him self-control (he has ADHD, but that is no excuse). Apparently he has been having issues in transitional periods at school (such as the lunch room) and on the bus. He was observed in class last week and his medication seems to be working for that, but we are getting some really nasty behavior when he's outside of class. He's disrespectful to everyone, regardless of how you phrase the question/statement, flies off the handle over very insignificant things, and is having difficulty keeping his hands & feet to himself. I don't know what to do.

I do know that somewhere in there is a very sweet child who is loving and curious, but for the life of me I don't know how to reach him. He reminds me of that nursery rhyme: "There was a little girl with a curl in the middle of her forhead, when she was good, she was very very good, but when she was bad she was HORRID!" That sums up my son. I really hope we can get this straightened out. He's a smart kid, but if he can't/won't control himself we are going to have some pretty severe issues.

Mrs. Martin

Easy to please

Human beings are a demanding lot. We want it all; food, shelter, clothes, gadgets, perfect politicians & government, the perfect spouse, perfect kid(s), so on and so forth. Some of us like surprises, some don't (for the most part I fall into the latter category since I'm a bit of a control freak lol). Contemplating on what makes us happy, can in fact make us very unhappy in the long run. Most of the time I try to focus on the now and not what has been or might be. Someday's I actually succeed.

In the past 2 weeks Kyle has had to make a trip to Texas and a trip to Louisiana without me. Both times I asked him to bring me something, both times he did. Other than telling him I wanted Brownies from Braum's, (if you love cherry limades, great ice cream, and great burgers you should check them out!), I didn't specify what I wanted him to bring home. He brought home fudge cake, brownies, their 9 grain bread, and milk. From his trip to Louisiana he brought me a fleece jacket & a really soft hoodie.

I gotta admit, I love my guy. He didn't have to bring me anything, but what he brought me was great. I love the food from Braum's. His reasoning for the fleece jacket was great.  He has one that has camo on the shoulders that I have pretty much taken over, so he bought me my own. The hoodie is great for fall days & will make a welcome addition to my wardrobe for the cooler weather.

Was it the moon? No. Was it something spectacular? Yes and no. It may not have been a gazillion dollar diamond ring (which I probably wouldn't wear because I am notoriously hard on rings), but it was something that I wanted/needed, that he recognized and proceeded to do something about.

The best things in life are free (so true), but the next best things are the simple things. Appreciating what you get, whether it be a jacket or the moon, goes a long way in making me easy to please.

Mrs. Martin

How time flies!

16 years ago today I married my best friend, I just didn't know it at the time. I'm not sure what demon possessed Kyle to ask me to marry him on that day, but I'm glad he did. Like any couple we have had our ups and downs. We've been through a cross country move from Texas to Tennessee with 2 children under the age of 3 and only the things we could fit into his El Camino and my little Honda. We survived my subsequent culture shock related to moving from the big city to a LITTLE BITTY town. 8 years of him driving a truck over the road and most recently the last 4 years which have included me being a full time student, him getting laid off and finding a different career, 2 teenagers and a 7 year old that makes the older 2 look like child's play.

Through it all we've managed to not kill each other (or the kids for that matter!) and have actually managed to grow as individuals, a couple, and as parents. Growing up neither of us had a template to show us what a marriage should be, so we made up the rules as we went. We knew what we didn't want to happen and built off of that.

All of this is amazing to me as I look back over the last 16 yrs. I couldn't ask for a better partner in my life. We balance each other out. He's quiet, I talk. He's introverted, I know no strangers. He is himself, I am me. Some how, some way we make it work.

So here's to you dear =)  Happy Anniversary, I hope we celebrate many more!
Here are a few pictures of the wedding many years ago :)

The happy couple!

He was 18 & I was 19 in this picture at the reception

My beautiful mom & I 

From this day forward...I love James Avery Jewelry, can you tell?

Isn't he handsome ;)