Camping Pictures

Camping

 *I have tried to post this blog several times with pictures, but it doesn't seem to be working.  I'll try to add pictures again at a later time.*

We've been back for a week now, but it has been an incredibly busy week of meetings, work, and class. 

Our trip was good.  We went to Mammoth Cave, KY.  This turned out to be a great choice for many reasons.  First, we love visiting new places, and we had never been to Mammoth Cave.  Second, it was an hour and half away... great distance to be away from Nashville, but not too far that it's inconvenient.  And third, Mammoth Cave has hundreds of miles of hiking trails! 

So the actual cave is the longest known cave system in the world with well over 300 miles of underground caves in a 7 mile radius.  The park currently has 14 miles open for public tours.  Eric researched the various tours offered and chose a very nice looking tour he thought we would enjoy.  Little did we know, this place is quite popular and some tours were sold out days in advance.  So we joined the hundreds of other people making last-minute reservations and took one of the beginner tours that has space for 120 people and 6 time slots throughout the day.  And our tour did eventually sell-out.

We were pleasantly surprised with our tour and thoroughly enjoyed the 2 miles of cave we traveled.  Some places were very large while others were very small, tight, and slippery.  Mammoth Cave was formed by underground river, and is still being formed.  There were a couple places we could see waterfalls and others where we just got wet from dripping water overhead.  Unfortunately, with over 100 people following 1 guide, you just can't hold up the line to take pictures.  So we got what we could, and moved on!

I Know Who Holds Tomorrow

Read this hymn on a friend's blog today.  Love it.

I Know Who Holds Tomorrow
~Ira Forest Stamphill
I don't know about tomorrow,
I just live from day to day.
I don't borrow from it's sunshine,
For it's skies may turn to gray.
I don't worry o'er the future,
For I know what Jesus said,
And today I'll walk beside Him,
For He knows what is ahead.

Many things about tomorrow,
I don't seem to understand;
But I know Who holds tomorrow,
And I know Who holds my hand.

Ev'ry step is getting brighter,
As the golden stairs I climb;
Ev'ry burden's getting lighter;
Ev'ry cloud is silver lined.
There the sun is always shining,
There no tear will dim the eyes,
At the ending of the rainbow,
Where the mountains touch the sky.

Many things about tomorrow,
I don't seem to understand;
But I know Who holds tomorrow,
And I know Who holds my hand.

I don't know about tomorrow,
It may bring me poverty;
But the One Who feeds the sparrow,
Is the One Who stands by me.
And the path that be my portion,
May be through the flame or flood,
But His presence goes before me,
And I'm covered with His blood.

Many things about tomorrow,
I don't seem to understand;
But I know Who holds tomorrow,
And I know Who holds my hand.

Spring Break

While "Spring Break" doesn't mean the same thing it used to, I am grateful. 

Our school board voted to use 2 of our spring break days to make up snow days, so that's been fun.  While I appreciate the thought of getting in extra instructional days before "the test," I'm not sure it did any of us a bit of  good using spring break.  Alas, I have the next 4 days off - and the weekend :)

Today I have a case study to write, and I'd love to get started on report cards.  Tomorrow I plan to finish report cards, and maybe start cleaning the house. That's quite the project, so I'm sure it will take most of  Thursday as well.  I also have an interview on Thursday for a summer opportunity called the Middle Tennessee Writing Project.  And Friday... this is the day I'm really waiting for.... we're going camping!  

Picture taken from a 2009 trip.  How has it been so long?

We haven't officially made our plans yet, and there's still so much to accomplish before then it seems like the distant future.  So even though I haven't gotten all worked up and excited, I know that it will be just what we need once we get there.  I kind of wish I could go to sleep and wake up on Friday. 

Maybe I'll give it a try :) 

Little Did I Know...

Little did I know when I wrote that post last week about what a long and horrible week it had been that it would get worse.  How was I to know?  I hit an all-time stress level this week where I literally could not function.  I came home, landed, and didn't move until the next day.  I think this happened a couple times.  On Wednesday I told Eric I didn't want to go to school.  I'm blessed to be working in a field that I absolutely LOVE, and I've not had that thought this year (about not wanting to go). 

Last week the teacher next door to me said, "Why are all the 3rd grade teachers dropping like flies?  And how are you still going?"  I wish I would have had the foresight to say, "My turn is coming.  Don't you see?  I'm about to crash.... give it till Tuesday." 

This week was Read-Across-America week.  Each day was themed; hat's off to hometown heroes, reading makes me so bright I just have to wear my shades, team up for reading (jerseys), favorite character day... you get the idea.  I participated on Monday when I brought a beach towel and sat on it (catch the reading wave) and I participated on Tuesday when I wore my shades as a headband.  By Wednesday I was a walking zombie and oblivious to the "extras."  And today I was part of the 3rd grade team that didn't participate (not planned, but we're all walking zombies by now), while the rest of the school looked like a good ol' fashioned Halloween party.  The kind I used to have in elementary school, fit with a parade and all.  Kids and teachers alike, all dressed as their favorite character from a book. 

Had I not been so drained, emotionally empty, both physically and mentally exhausted, I would have taken a picture or two.  However, that thought didn't cross my mind until just now, as I sit here writing this.

To recap:

• The shelf my microwave was sitting on (3rd shelf in a bookcase) broke with my water heating inside the microwave.  Came crashing down, shattered the obnoxious pink-heart mug (see V-day post), spilled the water all over papers, posters, other book shelves... even the glass tray inside the microwave cracked.  Perfect.
• Eric's in Dallas for a theology conference this weekend.  He was leaving on Wednesday, so he left work early on Tuesday night so we could have a minute or two together before he left.  By the time he left work, I was already sleeping on the couch.  What a jerk I am.
• Now using my indestructible mug for tea, fit with a lid and all... I set it down to submit my attendance.  A child walked over and before I could calmly interrupt, "sit down and raise your pretty hand, precious child," she knocked over my tea... spilling on the keyboard, chair, and floor.
• Took an orange for lunch (trying to choose healthier options these days), and sitting in solitude in my classroom because apparently that's what I needed this week.  While peeling the orange over the trash can (as to not drop peel on the floor), the orange slipped out of my hands, bounced off my khaki pants on the way down, leaving a lovely ORANGE stain, and landed squarely in the trash can.  Double negative.
• This morning a child got out of his chair to look at the globe (to find the bordering states of Oregon... NO IDEA why he didn't use the US map).  The globe was hanging.  He pulled too hard, the rope broke, it scared the blessed child, and he dropped the globe.  Broken globe in hand, I thought the only logical thing...

"Because why wouldn't this happen to me?  Of course, I needed to finish out the week." 

OH - also about Tuesday of this week, my back/shoulder started bothering me.  Within 24 hours I was a hot mess with deep pain.  Today I had the opportunity to see the chiropractor.  He has always been able to help me with this problem.  But today, he could not.  Even tried some electric stem and heat... still nothing. 

Oh, April 16.  Please come fast.