Thursday, April 30, 2026

What's Up April

     Happy Wednesday Thursday, Y'all

Today, I'm joining Shay and Sheaffer for their What's Up Wednesday link-up. Only, I’m a day late. Oops. Oh, and I also just realized I missed last month's link-up. But that's because it was a week after surgery and I still had both arms totally bandaged up so typing wasn't happening. That's for sure.

Anyways, here we are.


Every month we answer the same list of questions based on how things are currently going in our lives.

So let's get started...

What am I eating?

My Mama treated me to a steak lunch after my doctor’s appointment the other day. Ruby Tuesday did not disappoint! That is for sure!


What am I reminiscing about?

My dad… This month marked 11 years since he passed away. I so miss him! I wrote more on my thoughts/feelings on this on the anniversary of his passing


What am I loving?

I’m loving the report I got from my surgeon earlier this week, releasing me to return to work soon. Boy have I missed my people and this school!


What have I been up to?

Me after my first appt with my surgeon just 3 days after I fell.

Recovering from wrist surgery. 6 weeks ago, I fell, badly breaking my left wrist. I knew instantly that it was broken. It was that bad. Anywho, a week after that, I had surgery to repair that - He inserted a plate and I believe it was 8 screws. He said it required a longer plate than usual because of how bad the break was. And on top of that, when I first fell, I also fractured my right elbow. Thankfully, it wasn’t as bad and after a few weeks, it was back to normal with that one. But still… Recovery has been rough! I’m left handed, so there’s that little wrench thrown in the plans. And while I began to rely on my right hand more, at first it was also fully wrapped so for the first week, I wasn’t able to write, feed myself, take care of any personal hygiene by myself, etc. By Week 2, when the right arm was unbandaged, I could do far more but I still couldn’t fully straighten my right arm until into Week 3. And through all of this, my left arm was completely immobilized (basically useless). In fact, I’d been told to not hold or pick up anything bigger than a glass of water. And because of the severity of my break and the seriousness of the repair done, and knowing the level of needs in/hands on support required of me to teach my class, my surgeon told me I would need to stay out of work for at least 6 weeks, if not longer, to allow my body time to fully heal. He said that one wrong move, one accidental hit could completely destroy the work that had been done. Thankfully at my appointment this week, he said it was healing so well, that he would release me to return to work on the original planned date of 6 weeks. I can’t pick up children or change diapers, and I have to continue wearing my brace for a couple more weeks, but other than that, I’m set. 

So yeah… Recovery has been a long, extremely painful process. I would not wish this on my worst enemy. It’s been bad. 

But, I’m good now. And my teacher heart is so very grateful to be returning back to the classroom in just a few short days.

What am I dreading?

Y’all, the arthritis brought on by rain this week has made me have another reason to dread the rain. Oh my word has my wrist been so achy!

Look at that hardware in there!

What am I working on?

Thinking more positively :)


 What am I excited about?

My mom and I had already planned to go visit family during my school’s Spring Break. So we kept those plans… My aunt had a medical procedure done that week, so we were able to be at the hospital to support her. We were able to spend some time the next day out, having fun with her and two of my cousins too. And then, we were able to spend a few days with my brother and his family as well. It was such a nice time with all of them!



What am I watching?

Nothing on TV … But I did get to watch both of my nieces perform in their school musical a couple weeks ago. That was such a special treat for me. I appreciate times like that far more now than I think I would have because for so many years, I lived overseas and missed out on so many moments in their lives. So now, if it’s within my power to do so, I will be at events like this. 





What am I reading?

A friend recommended Remarkably Bright Creatures a while back and I added it to my Amazon cart last month. Then I just, finally, got around to reading it. So far, so good.


What am I listening to?

I’ve had this one on repeat a good bit lately. Such a good song!


What am I wearing?

This brace :)


 What am I doing this weekend?

I've got nothing big scheduled. I'll be catching up on some paperwork for school since I'm finally cleared to go back to work. I mean, technically, I won't be back officially 'til Tuesday as I have an appointment Monday. But still... Back to the grind. Right? :) 

What am I looking forward to next month?

May brings with it one of my niece's birthdays so I'll get to go back up for that. It also includes Mothers Day and the opportunity to celebrate my sweet Mama. It also brings the start of Summer Break, too. 

But the biggest thing of all... On May 5th, I go back to work and that brings immense joy to this teacher's heart. I am so very ready to be back in the classroom with my people. Oh my word have I missed their sweet little selves!

Favorite recent Amazon find?

My Amazon purchases have been a bit random lately… Pencil grippers to help me be able to write better, a new teacher shirt, birthday gifts for my niece, a book…

What's new this month?

I’ve had to learn to depend on people more in the past month (well, 6 weeks) than ever before. And I am so incredibly grateful for all of the ways people have shown up and helped me… So many people graciously and generously donated sick days to me so I didn’t have to lose pay while out of work this whole time. We’ve had my amazing Paras (aides), various subs, and others at my school picking up the slack with my students while I’ve been out. My brother and his family drove down to help Mom and me when I first got hurt and then my brother came back for my surgery, too. Countless people have been praying and encouraging me throughout this process. And then this lady… Y’all, my mom has gone above and beyond for sure. She has done so very much for me and I will never ever be able to repay her for all she’s done. I can, with 100% certainty, say that I would not have made it through this had it not been for my mom. She has been such a true blessing!


And that's what I'm up to this month.

What about you?

What are YOU up to this month?

Sunday, April 19, 2026

11 Years

     Today is the 11th  anniversary of my dad’s death. 

A fact that just does not seem possible…

How has 11 years already gone by?

My dad passed away 10 years ago.
The day before my his 56th birthday. And only 9 days before my parents' 31st anniversary. And me? My heart was feeling the intense weight of such a significant and painful loss. 


When I got hurt last month, I so desperately wished he were still alive and I could have called him. And when they wheeled me back for surgery, before the anesthesia fully took effect, I remember thinking how much I wish he could’ve prayed for me before time…


My mom and I have been reminiscing about him a lot lately. It’s been nice having those chats, and thinking about all sorts of sweet and happy memories.


We sure do miss having him here…


By the end of his life, my dad was so sick, though. So even though, we do so desperately miss him, I wouldn't dare call him back. Heaven is such an incredible place, a place where he's no longer sick, no longer hurting. He's whole again. And Heaven is for sure better than this mess of a world we're all living in now :)

 

Sometimes, though, I wonder why... 


I wonder why he had to pass away so young. I wonder why our family had to deal with this huge loss. I wonder why, if I ever get married or have children, he'll never get to meet them. I wonder why my mom has to be a widow. I wonder why she’s had to deal with so much since he passed away. I wonder why my nieces will only have just a few memories of my dad - a man who absolutely, positively loved being a Pawpaw to those girls. 


But even in my wondering and my sadness, I'm still thankful for some things. I’m thankful for all the time I did have. I’m thankful for so many cherished memories I did have/do have. And I’m thankful for so much more…


I'm thankful for a Christian heritage he continued with our family. 


I'm thankful for the love of learning he passed down to me. He would love that I was considering going back to school to get my doctorate. After all, we joke that he was basically a professional student. And as a Special Ed teacher, himself, he also would have 100% understood why I made the decision to wait and not start this past Fall like I’d thought I would because work was too time consuming/overwhelming at the time and I was doing the job of 2 teachers at once. 


I'm thankful for the memories of his laugh and his joy for life.


I'm thankful for 29.5 years worth of happy memories.


I'm thankful, that even though, I'll never get to experience having him at my own possible wedding or births of possible future children, I was able to see the immense joy/pride/love he showed on the day of my brother and sister-in-law's wedding and of all the time he joyfully spent with my beautiful nieces.


I'm thankful for so much.

And yes, I do still miss him terribly. 


But, I can smile, thinking of him hanging out with Jesus and talking to all the people from the Bible whom he loved to read/study/preach about for all those years. What a fun time that must be! 

My dad loved the Lord with all his heart. And he loved sharing about the Lord with anyone who would listen. In fact, my dad preached his last sermon from his hospital bed exactly one week before he passed away. Using Romans 8:18 as his primary verse, he reminded us that, though we may experience suffering and pain here on earth, we can trust in the hope of our Savior. We can trust in the knowledge that if we are saved, we will experience that glory that is beyond compare.  And now, today, I am so incredibly thankful that his words are permanently etched into my memory. 



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I've written memories-filled posts every year on the anniversary of his death, which can be found below. While still sad, it's nice for me to be able to look back and remember how God's been with me through the past years' anniversaries...











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Today, I'm linking up with  Erika and Andrea for their weekly Friday Favorites link-up. Because, while thinking about my dad's death obviously isn’t a favorite, thinking/talking about my dad is an favorite. After all, my dad was, and always will be, one of my favorite people.

Friday, February 27, 2026

What’s Up February

    Happy Wednesday Thursday Friday, Y'all

Today, I'm joining Shay and Sheaffer for their What's Up Wednesday link-up. And yes, I do realize it’s actually Friday. Oops. I kept meaning to post either before or after school each day Wednesday and then Thursday. But nope… Kept forgetting. So here we are :)

Anywho, on with the post…


Every month we answer the same list of questions based on how things are currently going in our lives.

So let's get started...

What am I eating?

Nothing terribly exciting… I did earn a free footlong sandwich from Subway via their app, though. So I got that on my way to a training off campus on Wednesday. That was nice. 


What am I reminiscing about?

Mardi Gras fun with my family :) 





What am I loving?

Lately, I’ve been leaving work right around the time that the sun is starting to set. And the other night, I got this shot right when I got home. Isn’t the sky so beautiful? I love it!


What have I been up to?

Work. That’s about it.


What am I dreading?

Next week starts my busiest 2 months at work, And while I do definitely love working with all of our sweet kiddos and while I also know that I’ll get it all done and I’ll get it all done very well too, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t dreading just a tiny bit all of the super late nights/weekend work sessions I know I’ll have the next couple months since there’s most definitely no way possible to get it all done during the school day.


What am I working on?

Remembering this prayer...


 What am I excited about?

I found out that the musical my nieces have been rehearsing for is going to be during my Spring Break, which made me super excited! I knew there was no way possible I could’ve asked off for that, knowing it’s our busiest time of the year with state testing and IEP meetings and all going on at the same time. So I was feeling so sad/disappointed to know I’d be missing it. But they just released the dates and I almost cried when my brother told me, knowing it’ll be during my school’s Sprimg Break 🩷


What am I watching?

Not a thing.

What am I reading?

We’ll be reading Pancakes Pancakes By Eric Carle in class today, as part of a joint Reading/English/Science lesson. Then we’ll make a pancake craft and then taste pancakes too. Most of our people LOVE crafts of any kind so I think little project will be fun. Plus, the lessons we can get out of that book (which go right along with what we’ve been learning in those 3 subject areas) are going to be fun/engaging as well!


What am I listening to?

Same answer as last month actually… I've still had the song, Good Day, by Forrest Frank stuck on repeat. I love it!


What am I wearing?

The weather is so crazy. It was starting to get a bit warmer. Then we had two really cold days this week. And now it’s getting warmer again. So I’m wearing layers typically.

 What am I doing this weekend?

My mom and I are going to a market happening this weekend. 

What am I looking forward to next month?

March is going to be the start of my 2 busiest months at work. But we do have some fun planned for my people in between all the busy-ness. So I’m looking forward to all that.

Favorite recent Amazon find?

I bought these for our students in both classes for Valentine’s Day. We have quite the budding artists in our rooms so I thought this was the perfect little gift.


What's new this month?

Nothing much 

And that's what I'm up to this month.

What about you?

What are YOU up to this month?