Because I'm the Teacher

Last week (the week of Thanksgiving) we had two days of school.  My grade level strategically planned a field trip on Monday because we all know how focused kids are on a two day school week before Thanksgiving.  Right.  And, because I'm the teacher, (and because I love the Chiefs!), I scheduled us to take a field trip to the new Chiefs Sports Lab!  It is AWESOME!

One of my students asked if we were going on this field trip because I like the Chiefs so much.  My response -- "Of course not!"  Ummm....well, maybe just a little.  :-)

Of course I can't show the pictures of my students there which is a bummer because I've got some seriously cute pictures!  BUT.....I do have a few that their teacher was super excited about!  (I seriously said to a couple of kids multiple times this trip, "Your teacher is SOOO happy right now!")

We got to walk out of the Chiefs tunnel onto the field!! 

The kids were really excited to go onto the field.  

They wanted to see where Miss Schulze sits every Sunday.  :-)

Well....maybe not this season.

There is a tunnel on the Chiefs sideline that I've never noticed before....it's very nondescript.  It goes down below the field and back into the stadium to the locker rooms.  The players use this tunnel at half time and at the end of the game.

We're on our way to the locker room!  I was a little giddy at this point!

Before entering the locker room we were told there is a big arrowhead on the carpet in the middle of the locker room.  We were not allowed to touch it because it's disrespectful and bad luck.  That was difficult for the kiddos to understand.  "Why can't we stand on the arrowhead?" was a question I answered multiple times.  But you'd better believe that I'd have had some heads if anyone had stepped on that thing!

 Not my prettiest moment ever, but I needed my picture in front of Tyler Palko's locker!  Even if the rest of Kansas City isn't a fan of his.

And you know I took a picture in front of D Bowe's locker!!!

 All of the lockers were empty except this one.  Apparently they keep this one stocked all the time so they know how each locker is to be stocked every week.  Every player's locker is set up just like this one.

I have to brag on my kiddos for a second.  Even though you can't see their pictures, you should know that the Chiefs told us we were the best behaved students they've had!  YAY US!

So, the moral of the story is.....when you're the teacher, you get to pick the field trip.  :-)

Proof That I'm a Little Strange

1.  I pick my split ends. OBSESSIVELY.

2.  Even though I know the Kansas cheerleaders are saying "K-ay-ay-ay U - U!", I still think they're saying "Hey, you."

3.  The aforementioned "Hey, you" cheer gets stuck in my head and I walk around my house chanting "Hey-ay-ay-ay You, You!" in my head.

4.  I am always cold.  Even in the summer, I need a blanket if I'm outside at night.

5.  Apparently I sound like a goat when I boo at Chiefs games.  Meredith likes to make fun of my boo.

6.  I like to make up stupid songs.  For example, I have a song called "Get On the Bus" that I sing to kids at bus duty.  It goes a little something like this:  "Get on the bus!  Get on the bus!  Everybody get on the bus!"  I know what you're thinking.  THAT is talent.

7.   I'm ridiculously OCD.  I lock my door with the remote lock at least fifty times before walking away from my car.  If you hear a car door shut and then a car horn honk several times....you know I'm close by.

8.  I like corn.  A lot.

9.  Sometimes I'll eat just a can of corn for dinner.  YUM.

10.  I organize my Q-Tips.

Bittersweet

Tonight, for absolutely no reason at all, I was reminded one of the most bittersweet memories I think I will ever have in this lifetime.

In 2006, my Aunt Janet (my mom's sister) died of colon cancer.  She battled the disease for years, but eventually could not fight any more and the Lord called her home.  My Aunt Janet lived in Oregon, and I will always remember and be moved by the sacrifice my mother made in absolute love for her sister by leaving her own family in Kansas City and spending my aunt's last weeks with her.

At one point in my mom's time in Oregon, when we had accepted that the end was inevitable and close, my aunt requested that I sing at her funeral.  She specifically wanted "The Lord's Prayer."  I knew I couldn't oblige this request for two reasons:  1.  There was no way in the world I would ever make it through singing any song at her funeral, much less "The Lord's Prayer".    2.  I probably wouldn't be able to get to Oregon last minute for the funeral.

So I recorded it.  With the help of some friends, we spent an afternoon working on the recording, and I emailed it to my mom.

But here's the memory that shocked me with the tears this evening:

I can vividly remember lying in my bed at my parents' house one night with my cell phone resting between the pillow and my ear.  My mom was playing my recording for my aunt for the first time and we were all listening to it together, hundreds of miles apart.  I remember hearing my recorded voice playing, with me in my bed and Aunt Janet in hers, incredibly blessed that I was able to give her this small gift - this token of my love for her - while tears fell down my cheeks and soaked my pillow.   


To this day, that memory instantaneously brings rivers of bittersweet tears.

Are You Ready For Some Football?!

This year we spent Halloween at Arrowhead Stadium actually enjoying a football game!  We started things off with a little tailgate.  Duh.  :-)

Sis and Mom

Dad (aka Grill Master)

See....we were REALLY tailgating!!!

 After some delicioso brat, we headed into the stadium.  There's nothing like Monday Night Football!

If you look closely, you can see the Monday Night Football anchors.  We're right across the field from the press box.  I could see their white shirts and ties from across the field!

A little warmin' up for cutie #4 (who is now our starting QB.....
he's pretty, but we'll see how he is at football).

Startin' things off right!

So, my mom and sister and I get pretty silly when we're together.  Here's picture #1 of us.  (I'm not good at the whole holding-your-own-camera-while-taking-a-picture thing.)

This is picture #2.  Meredith is playing the role of creepster.

We actually had things to cheer for at this game!

I'm worried that this will be the last game that we win this season.  I'm going to live in the memory of victory while I can!

Fortune Cookies

Here's the link to my fortune cookies.  Like I said in the video, I had trouble finding paper (becauseI waited until the last minute) so I'm not thrilled with the paper....but the fortune cookies are adorable!!

This is the picture on the website that I used along with the directions from the website. 

http://www.oncewed.com/7578/diy-wedding/favors/diy-fortune-cookie-favors/

Directions:

1.  Begin by using a plastic lid as a template to trace circles on your decorative paper.   A 12” square piece of paper yields approximately 9 circles.   Cut out your circles using your scissors.   If you have an extra large circle craft punch, that works well too.  

2.  Fold a circle in half with the pattern side in.   Make a crease along the folded edge. 

3.  Open your circle, and turn it pattern side out.

4.  Turn your circle so the crease you made in step 2 is vertical. Fold the circle in in half horizontally, pattern side out, rounded side down, Do NOT crease.  Hold the half circle on the bottom, between your thumb and index finger.   Use the index finger from your other hand to push in the middle of the folded side of the circle at the crease.  As you push in, the top corners will start to turn up.  Continue to hold the half circle and use your other hand to pull the corners in until they nearly meet and form the cookie shape.  If your cookie doesn’t want to stay folded, use a tiny piece of double stick tape to keep the halves together. 

Black or Blonde?

Today while I was meeting with one of my small groups, the following conversation occurred:

Boy:  (speaking to me)  Are you black or blonde?
Me:  WHAT?  (My hair???)
Boy:  Are you black?
Me:  Do you mean my skin?
Boy:  I can't tell if you're black.

So we proceeded to compare arms and colors.


Boy:  I'm black.
Me:  What about me?
Boy:  You're white.

Good thing we've gotten that straightened out.

I might just marry Brandon Heath

For those of you who have read my blog for any length of time, you probably know that I have a little "thang"  for Brandon Heath.  It started out by me just flat out loving his music and how it ministered to me in the midst of some hurtful times.  See my blog here.  Then it was admiration of his musicianship (as a musician, it so refreshing to hear someone who truly knows music!).  Then it was me goofing around about getting a date with him.

Now, let me just tell you -- it is a FULL. ON. CRUSH.  I mean, seriously.  Cutest couple ever!

You know this is my new Facebook profile pic.

My mom (God bless her soul) agreed to go with me to the concert, though, she had had an incredibly busy day and would have preferred to stay at home.  Gotta love my mama.

Ready to go!

We got to the church and there was a serious line outside waiting to get into the Soundcheck Session. 

The Soundcheck Session was HANDS DOWN the best part of the show.  I absolutely LOVE an acoustic set.  Just a dude, a guitar and a song.  Yes, please!!  Reminds me of high school when we'd sit around with guitars and a piano and a djembe and just worship.

Brandon was wonderful in engaging and talking to the audience.  Lots of smiles and laughing all around.  We even managed a conversation about Teddy Ruxpin.  ???  Anybody else remember that creepy bear? On a side note, my mother has some serious blackmail potential photos with me and my Teddy Ruxpin!  We were best buds.

After our little acoustic set, we had to wait a bit for the show to start.  

We're usually pretty good at keeping ourselves entertained.  

The "real" show finally started with Brit Nicole.  I'm gonna be honest.  I'd never heard of this chickadee before, but the little girls in the audience LOVED her and sang along with every song!  Girlfriend stressed me out, though!  I swear she was going to break an ankle in those shoes!

Then it was Brandon's turn.  SO WONDERFUL!  My mom and I had a great time, and I have to admit, the longer the concert went on, the more my heart palpitated.  :-)

I have a confession to make.  I totally used this blog as an excuse to get a picture with my main man, Brandon.  Obviously, I was going to blog about the concert and would use any pictures I could get.  But, I would have wanted a picture with him regardless of the blog!  So my mom and I hung out until the majority of the crowd had dissipated so I could get my coveted picture.

I have to tell you this story.  While we waited in line to meet Brandon, there was a little girl (probably in kindergarten) and her grandma? in front of us.  She wasn't exactly the best behaved child I've ever seen.  She was running around and stepped on my mom's foot.  She turned around, looked at my mom and said, "You'll be okay."  HA!  That would never fly in my classroom and apparently wasn't a good response in my mom's opinion either.  My mom looked down at her and said, "I believe the word you're looking for is excuse me."  Oh, mom.  :-)  I had to turn my back on the situation so they wouldn't all see me laughing!

Anyway....back to Mr. Heath.

Here's me introducing myself to him.  How professional do I look?!  You'd think I was interviewing for a job.  Actually....it looks like he's the one interviewing for a job.  Funny!

 And then the best part of the night.

How creepy would it be for me to frame this and put it on my bedroom wall?  JUST KIDDING!!!

On a completely serious note, Brandon talked about his work in Africa with Food for the Hungry.  I've been thinking a lot about my summer and whether or not to go back to China to serve again.  Honestly, Africa has really been on my mind....instead of China.  I'd love prayers for wisdom and discernment for where to serve this summer!  More to come on that front later.