25 Random Things About Me

1. I love winter and it drives me nuts when people complain about the cold weather. I can't imagine living in a warm climate.
2. This summer my husband and I will celebrate 20 years of marriage.
3. I am allergic to 4 of the top 8 food allergens; milk, eggs, wheat, and peanuts. I'm currently in a desensitization program so I am able to have certain amounts of these each day. I miss my peanut butter.
4. I'm a wee bit obsessed with Laura Ingalls Wilder. I've studied her life, traveled to her homes, and studied the lives of her friends and family members. My history loving husband has come along for the ride. I've even been able to get one of my cousins and her children to visit Laura's birthplace, OH, and another cousin too. And then...I always manage to get a student or two liking her every year.
5. I keep several journals. I love to write about what's going on, what I'm praying about, dreaming about, I make lists, I plan, and I record every book I read. And then, because I'm goofy, I decorate pages with stickers, I use different colored ink, and I draw pictures with crayons and markers. My journals are great. Oh, and I blog. My blog is not that great.
6. I love to write. Someday I would love to have one of my projects published.
7. I am a Christ Follower. It is the biggest piece of who I am.
8. I love to read. During the summer I read a book a day. Yes, that means all I am doing all day long is reading.
9. I also love to knit. I have many projects going at one time.
10. Wow, this is only number 10. I only like even numbers. I think odd numbers are ugly. I also think the numbers containing the numeral 6 are ugly. Pretty weird, huh?
11. July 29th is my favorite day of the summer. The summer needs a holiday and I think that should be it. Just ask Alli and Sarah. Mark your calendars people!
12. I've donated my hair to Locks of Love 3 times and I think I'm about ready for my 4th donation.
13. I am afraid of bridges and head lice.
14. My favorite colors in junior high were pink and green...they still are...just not together.
15. I love Hello Kitty. Ted bought me a Hello Kitty desk lamp for Christmas. One of my students is in love with it 8-) We love Hello Kitty together. I am in deep like with Choco Cat.
16. I like being connected to my cousins on the Internet. It's a little sad really that I should need a tool like Facebook or email to "talk" to my family. Oops...I'm part loser.
17. I become easily addicted to reality shows, even those that I really shouldn't be watching. Since I don't watch that much tv that means my limited viewing time is wasted on trash. Except for the Deadliest Catch and Amazing Race, they are awesome.
18. My favorite show is The Office. My favorite character...maybe Dwight...
19. Perfume tends to give me headaches...but not the one I wear to work...Love's Baby Soft. It's pink and it smells good.20. My husband told me if I win $2 million I can quit my job. But, I never play the lottery or gamble. So, does anyone know where I can win $2 million? Guaranteed?
21. I am not proofreading this...it's taking too long and I don't want to read it again 8-) #21 I hate editing my own writing. I love editing the work of others.
22. I love to ride my bike. In the summer Ted and I go for rides late at night and see all the deer that live behind us. It's cool.
23. Asthma sucks.
24. Migraines suck.
25. I have the greatest husband in the world!

Google Name Meme

Type in "[your name] needs" in the Google search.
Dawn needs a tripod. (I did not know that).

Type in "[your name] looks like" in Google search.
Dawn looks like the lady from Roger Rabbit. (I look like a cartoon character?)

Type in "[your name] says" in Google search.
Dawn says being the world's oldest natural mother is a blessing. (Since I would love to be a mother, I guess I might just agree with this)

Type in "[your name] wants" in Google search.
Dawn wants a piece of heaven. (the second one said Dawn wants to start a family)

Type in "[your name] does" in Google search.
Dawn does not love you enough to send you a gift-wrapped item. (that's harsh)

Type in "[your name] hates" in Google search.
Dawn hates snowballs. (I hate being hit by them)

Type in "[your name] asks" in Google search.
Dawn asks you to kill your own. (your own what?)

Type in "[your name] likes " in Google search
Dawn likes Alice very much and protects her. (I wonder what I'd have to protect Alice from at church)

Type in "[your name] eats " in Google search.
Dawn eats the letter H. (sure!)

Type in "[your name] wears " in Google search.
Dawn wears it best. 8-)

Type in "[your name] was arrested for" in Google Search.
Dawn was arrested for theft in the fourth degree. She had taken several items of clothing from a department store. (not me!)

Type in "[your name] goes" in Google search.
Dawn goes on a hunger strike in protest. (good idea)

my next book

I woke up with a book idea this morning. I wrote that up before I lost it in the black hole between my ears. Then nothing...writers block. It's a common occurrence for me.


In church a few more lines popped out. They were written on the bulletin. Now I'm going to have to start carrying my little notebook with me. Hopefully this won't become a problem at work. Of course, sometimes I journal when the kids are journaling. I can write then, YAY! Usually, when I have time to write things just flow. They don't shoot out spontaneously between writing sessions.


I bet most of my faithful readers (okay, I know I have at least 3 readers) don't even know that I write. You see this mess I post online and you're thinking...this poor delusional woman calls herself a writer? Well you see...here at "I've been thinking..." I don't have to worry about CUPS (capitalization, usage, punctuation and spelling). I just type.


So, I'm sitting here at the computer looking at my latest work and waiting for more good stuff to pop into my head. So far...nothing. What's different about this idea is I didn't come up with it on my own. This is a God thing. Later I'm going to let Teedo Bandito read it because I also get the feeling he's supposed to be working on this too (he just doesn't know it yet).

Oh...and I started Job over, reading it aloud to Ted because I'm thinking this is a wacky story. Do I get any input from the Mr.? Nope. He just listened. He can read it on his own. I'll go back to where I was. Poor Job. Derry quoted Job 42 in church today. Kind of interesting since we're studying Joshua. It's a God thing.

With friends like them...

I think Job needs new friends. He is in pain and trying to sort out why he is covered in sores and wondering why he was ever born. (That was a great sentence!) Next to him are his 3 amigos. For everything Job has to say one of those smarties comes back with, "you must really have messed up for God to do this to you" or something like that. Get new friends Job. I don't know how much more of them I can take.

Saturday

-It's nippy outside.
-Breezy too.
-T. bought baked goods from his Amish friend. I can't eat any of it. 8-(
-We went to the butcher shop and bought a bunch of meat. When we arrived home I learned that our meat was ready from the butcher in Wisconsin. My freezer runneth over.
-I want a pink laptop. T. says, "Um, I don't think so." Who will win?
-My favorite student has moved and will be going to a new school. I am very sad.

Today is NOT Friday

even if you thought it should have been...sorry.

Tammy caught the frostbite last week. Just a wee spot on her finger. Enough to hurt like a bugger. She has to wear a burn bandage over the blister. Poor girl. There is a lesson to be learned in this. Do not change a tire without gloves on in -17 degree temps and hold your finger on the metal. You WILL catch the frostbite guaranteed.

Last night I left Job covered in sores and scraping them. That had to hurt beyond anything I can imagine right now (even in day 3 of migraines). Yet, he would not curse the Lord. Of course before I closed my life manual Job was pretty much begging to die and his friends were beginning to talk to him. I'd like to think if all I had was lost that my faith, my love for God would never fail and I would praise Him without hesitation.

Oh, and something else I saw play out once again today...
Crazy is as crazy does.
Some adults do not know how to pick their battles. They also seem to find enjoyment in causing sadness. 8-( My poor little flower. Her heart was broken.

Gomer

Gomer is the son of Japheth.
Gomer is the cousin of Goober
Gomer is the fan of Third Day.
You've come a long way Gomer.

Um...whatever

*migraine all day
*medication is not working
*I'm resorting to pain medication next...I hate the side-effects
*inauguration overload
*Noah just left the ark with his fam and the animals....I don't think I'll finish in a year since I'm already 17 days behind (guess what I'm reading)
*tomorrow is already Wednesday...I'm confused
*job stress on red alert...ISTART7 you are a bad word!
*pray for Adam's family...they will miss him
*I think I'm going to eat a popsicle and go to bed
*goodnight

I love my peanut allergy...

... this week anyway! All of the recalls and talk of salmonella is sad. Normally I'd be upset and dumping the peanut butter out of the cupboard. Not this time! We don't have any peanut butter. Last week I was once again mourning extra crunchy peanut butter. I wanted to eat a granny smith apple smothered in Jiff. This week, I'm thinking, "Peanut butter, who needs it?"

I hope Francie dumped her PB. Last time she was eating recalled Peter Pan until her son checked the jar and pitched it out. I guess I better email her. Off to save a friend from stomach cramps and, well, the rest of the unpleasant symptoms of salmonella poisoning.

The Deer

We have a herd of approximately 13 deer living in the woods behind our house (if I knew house to upload a photo on to this blog, here is were you would see one of the many photos I have of them). In the winter I love to look out the second floor windows and see where they walk at night. Last night after it snowed one decided to venture into the front yard. But, rather then jump our fence it decided to cut through the neighbors yard and walk around which allowed my backyard to remain pristine. I believe while exploring the "street side" of the neighborhood the lone deer also stopped to nibble a branch or two from the neighbor's tree. My beautiful, yet needs to be pruned, Maple remained unscathed. The deer then appears to have walked down the sidewalk where I'm guessing it went to the pond which was probably it's original destination.
I love watching the deer. Everyday at 5:15 you can look out across the field and watch them emerge from the trees to begin eating leftover soybeans. I've been able to stand 2 feet away from a fawn and stare into it's eyes. It watched me quietly walk toward it until we stood that measured distance apart. It didn't have any sense of fear, until it's mother snorted from about 10 feet away and I almost wet myself. The fawn took off and so did I. I turned quickly though to watch mother and baby bound across the field. It was so beautiful (once I realize the I wasn't about to star in "When Animals Attack").
God has blessed us with so much beauty. How often do we take time to stop and enjoy what is right in front of us? How often do we thank Him for all of the splendor?

confusion

I may be offended
but
it is not for me to forgive what was said.
Do I need to continue to replay the words
in my head
over
and
over?
I don't think so...
but I do.
Wouldn't it be nice if I could turn off a switch
and the words would be gone?
Forgotten.
Perhaps they will leave with sleep.

Sadly, I have let words, from a person with whom I have very little connection, bother me.
That...is confusing.

Don't "catch the frostbite"

A few months ago one of my students had a bit of a meltdown over a spelling test. He didn't want to take one. The meltdown became such an issue I had to call his mother and ended up leaving a message on her phone. In the meantime he decided he was going to have to run away from home because once his mother found out what was going on he was going to be in trouble. At this point he had the undivided attention of 2 adults and 5 children ( about 4 others found the whole tantrum thing too much and went to work on the computers, lucky them). My para K. starts discussing the cons of running away with him and mentions that it is just too cold outside to run away to his grandpa's. Out of his mouth popped one of my favorite quotes of the year..."I'm going...I don't care if I catch the frostbite!"

I hope he stayed inside today. If not, he caught it for sure.