Bigger and Better

(Somehow I accidentally posted a blank blog, sorry to those of you that follow this via email - you might be very confused right now!)

Anyway, it's been a wonderful weekend around here where we've been able to not only relax, but catch up on chores around the house and on the computer that I've been meaning to do for ages! If you've seen my activity on Facebook, you know I've been a very busy photo bee this morning! I've been meaning to blog about the Derby party, Easter, Jordan's outside show, and all kinds of other stuff, but I put it off way too long. So I'll just say here - it was all fun.

Now, on to bigger and better things - like FRANCE! We have all of our reservations booked and we are set and ready to go. We have a few days before we leave to get the house ready and pack our bags, then we'll be gone from June 11 - July 2. We have seven school days left and I am totally stoked about what lies ahead in the next few weeks. Big things, people. All kinds of big things going on around here!

How big? Well, next year's going to be important because...I've decided to get my National Board Certification! (I tricked some of you, didn't I?) Those of you outside the world of education have probably never heard of such a thing, so I'll just tell you - it's one year's worth of very hard work to get the title of "Nationally Certified Teacher" and earn Rank I on the pay scale. It's faster than another Master's Degree and a lot cheaper, but it's more like an idependent study where I'm in control of my own learning, reasearch, reflection and portfolio. Daunting, yet totally do-able if you ask me. Wish me luck!

As for the rest of this weekend - I went to Lexington TWICE. Once to say goodbye to my dear friend Meredith, who is leaving with her beautiful daughter and husband to live in Washington DC for a year while he joins the Air Force. We had a lovely dinner Thursday night and it finally hit me that she is leaving. I'm not happy about it. That's all I'll say before I burst into tears over it. Meredith - thanks for being my friend.

Chud and I went back to Lex today for a cookout at Laura and Pete's to say goodbye to their house on lovely C. Lane. On the drive home I realized that my last two trips were "goodbyes" and I don't like that one bit. So many things are changing all around us these days that it's hard to keep up! When we get back from France, three of our best friend-couples will be in new houses and that will be weird. At least all this change is for the better, right? Everyone is moving up and moving on to bigger and better things in their lives, which makes me happy. Still, all this change is a little bit sad.

Strawberries in the Jar

Spent some time on Jordan's back porch tonight, listening to him and his buddies play music: three guitars, two banjos, a mandolin, a fiddle, an upright bass, some spoons and lots of smiles! I came home tonight and wrote this in my journal so I thought I'd share it:

Guitar pickin' moonshine
Sittin' on the porch
Friends shakin' hands
Sharin' beers and hearts

Chicken burnin' on the grill
Family and friends eatin' late
Pass around the strawberry jar
And give it a good shake

Take turns playin'
singin'
harmonizin'
Lighting bugs passin'
through the music in the air

Pass around the strawberry jar
Somebody start a song
Voices melt into the night
Light fruity moonshine on our tongues