460 days and counting...

I love my husband because he hears songs like this and thinks of me!

"I could tell you my adventures beginning from this morning,"

said Alice a little timidly, 

"but it's no use going back to yesterday 

because I was a different person then."

-Lewis Carrol

Ants

The following conversation occurred just a few minutes ago after I found more ants... this time in our bed...

Pat: "I wish we could put like lotion or something on our legs to like... keep them away."

Me: "Like poison lotion?"

Pat: "Yeah."

Me: "Good idea. I'll get some tomorrow."

I guess now it's Chapter 23...

Little Women has always been one of my favorite movies. Every part of it has meant something to me at some point during the 15 years since I first saw it (IN THEATERS!). I find new things to love about it every time I watch it. 

For the most part, I love it because it reminds me of my sisters. I'll be honest, I can scarcely make it through the beginning credits without crying (if you've ever watched this movie, you know what I'm talking about). Watching it reminds me that we're all far away from each other, and that our simple times growing up together are so very distant in the past. 

"We'll all grow up someday, Meg. We might as well know what we want..."

Amy

I don't feel like my sisters and I ever had a moment of foreshadowing like that... a moment where we ever thought about what life would be like outside of our beloved home, after all of the seasons would pass and changes would come. I don't think I ever really knew what I wanted later on. Growing up, I was the Beth of the family. Always wanting things to stay the same. Never understanding why anyone would want change. Attached to and emotional about everything in my path...

"Why does everyone want to go away? I love being home..."

Beth

As I've grown up, I've become more of a Jo... leaving home, finding out where and what I'm supposed to be. I also found a husband. 

"You don't need scores of suitors... you only need one, if he's the right one."

Amy

(That was for you, Maggie)

Now, as I find myself married and madly in love, I find a new section of Little Women to appreciate for the first time... the relationship between Jo and Professor Bhaer. I don't know about you, but when I first watched this movie at the tender age of 8, I thought Jo was CRAZY to refuse Laurie. Maybe because it was Christian Bale, MAYBE NOT, but either way I could not understand how she would rather be with that old man (Now that I think of it, it could've also had something to do with the money. I think I may have been an aspiring gold digger back then...).

The fact is, I understand the love between a man and woman a lot better now than I did when I was 8. Their love (although romanticized) is so simple. Professor B.'s interpretation at the opera said it best...

Your heart understood mine. 

In the depth of the fragrant night, 

I listened with ravished soul to your beloved voice. 

Your heart understood mine.

I could write about this movie for days and days...

but I'm not going to.

Happenings

Since I know you're ALL clamoring to find a birthday present, 

I thought I'd make it easy. 

Hence: The Wish List

Don't worry, you can buy as much of it as you want. 

I'll add more for the others.

Fun week! Rangers game AND Coldplay.

Mary Catherine, me and McCall

The game

Our new friend!

Bouncy balls floating around the crowd

Me, Pat, Parker, and Lindsey

Chris and the boys

I love Wednesdays. The weekend is FINALLY in sight!

It's been a while!

This is such a wonderful summer. We've had so much fun traveling to Atlanta and Hilton Head, celebrating our first anniversary (!), trips to the ranch, and spending time with friends and family. There are about 600 pictures I still have to upload... eek. 

I'm having an on again-off again relationship with Diet Coke. Many of you already know this. Let's just say, it's a daily struggle. I'm pretty sure that this is exactly how drug addicts feel.

Pat and I went to see Away We Go the other night at the Angelika in Mockingbird Station. The Angelika plays indie movies and documentaries and such. Basically the movies that probably wouldn't generate hardly any revenue in a major movie theater.  My favorite quote from the movie? When asked why she hates strollers, Maggie Gyllenhal's character replies, "I LOVE my children. Why would I want to PUSH them away from me??"

Last night I went to the container store and bought all kinds of organizing things. That place is like the promised land. I walk in and wander around and drool over everything and convince myself that I DO need a caterpillar wall rack and take-out cartons. Sigh. I settled for a new silverware organizer, magnets, earring organizer, and 5 plastic containers to house cleaning supplies, bath stuffs, and things like that. I swear if I could I would organize everything in this apartment in baskets. If baskets didn't cost like 24.99 a piece.

We're heading to the ranch again this weekend for 4th of July weekend. Know what I think of when I think 4th of July? Well, I guess the first thing I think of is fireworks but the SECOND thing I think of is the flag cake my mom used to make every year. Pound cake layered with cool whip, blueberries, and strawberries. This might be the most popular holiday cake of all time. July 4th isn't July 4th without that cake. Or watermelon. 

Watermelon might be my favorite food right now. By the way.

Let's see how long it takes for me to write again...

Countdowns.

High family vacation in Hilton Head, SC - 12 days

Our first wedding anniversary - 20 days

Can I wait? NO. 

It's in the ABC's of growing up...

These past few weeks have been exhausting. School ended, work at LearningRX really picked up, and a million things had to be done. Frankly, I reached my limit when it came to commitments, meetings, and responsibilities.

In addition to all of this, my dear sweet friend Linda Walter passed away. Linda was the Assistant to the Director at my school this past year. I don't really like using that title when describing my relationship to her, because really, she was so much more than that. Linda was the first person I ever met at Coram Deo. Her dry, sharp sense of humor took me off-guard, and I really thought she didn't like me. In time, however, I learned to understand her and the unique way that she loved others. 

Over the course of this past year she became one most influential people in my life at school. As a first year teacher, I had my moments of cluelessness and probably really got on her nerves. If I did, she never showed it. Her sarcastic comments and fake hate always made me laugh. I found that once I really understood her, those gestures made me feel so loved and accepted, not put down or unwanted.

In early winter Linda went in for tests because of stomach problems she had been having. It turned out that she had a tumor. In late February, at a tear-soaked faculty meeting, she informed us all that the doctors had given her only 6 months to live. Her peace and faith in God were astounding. She didn't want chemo. She knew it was inoperable. She trusted that the Lord knew what He was doing and would carry her home when the time came.

The following months were filled with grief and confusion for me. It was so strange to me to already be grieving someone who was still living and an active part of my life. She knew how much I loved hearts, and one day brought me heart earrings and a heart necklace. "They were very inexpensive and practically right in front of me. Don't feel too special." :)  

Even in her last few months she found a way to lessen our fears and sadness about her leaving us. On the last day of school, she came around with her dog puppet "Spike" and said goodbye to the students. She knew it would probably be the last time most of them would see her. They all joyfully greeted her as always, and after a year of teasing me in front of them about how I'm a mean teacher, she told them to be thankful for me. She told them they were her favorite class and that she loved them. I kept my guard up, smiled, and laughed. I waved as she walked out of our classroom. That was the last time I saw her alive.

I really cry at the thought of not seeing her in the hallways next year. I will miss her sassy attitude, love of donuts, and the way she called me "Thibodeau." She really made such an impact on me and I will never forget her. It's easy for me to question why God would put her in my life and then take her away so quickly. I can only be thankful that I had the privilege of knowing her and benefiting from her witness. She loved the Lord unwaveringly and trusted his plan for her life. I am so proud to have called her my friend.

I hope I go with that kind of grace and dignity. And I definitely hope that I leave the kind of legacy that she did. 

 

Mother Goose Festival

Kindergartners are way fun! I know me and Jennifer look like witches, but we're supposed to be Mother Goose... both of us.

JDRF Gala

We had so much fun!!

More pictures here.

I LOVE THESE!

Thanks Jamie!

1. First thing you wash in the shower?

Hair!

2. What color is your favorite hoodie?
Gray (grey?)

3. Would you kiss the last person you kissed again? 
Duh!

4. Do you plan outfits?
Rarely. Sometimes I have EUREKA! moments while I'm at work or driving or something. I put things together in my mind and try them out asap.

5. How are you feeling RIGHT now?
Comfy 

6. What's the closest thing to you that's red?
My toenails

7. Tell me about the last dream you remember having?
I was pregnant and really happy about it... not sure if that would translate to real life right now!!

8. Did you meet anybody new today?
No

9. What are you craving right now?
Sweet tea

10. Do you floss?
Not really... I should though

11. What comes to mind when I say cabbage?
Green

12. Are you emotional?
Well yes

13. Have you ever counted to 1,000?
Well one time me and my students tried to during recess... eventually everybody just kind of wandered away

14. Do you bite into your ice cream or just lick it?
Combination

15. Do you like your hair?
It's tolerable

16. Do you like yourself?
Some of the time

17. Would you go out to eat with George W. Bush?
Yeah man! He's our neighbor now. I should invite us to their house for dinner.

18. What are you listening to right now?
Food Network

19. Are your parents strict?
Selectively... but for the most part yes

20. Would you go sky diving?
Oh definitely

22. Have you ever met a celebrity?
COLBY FROM SURVIVOR SEASON 1!

23. Do you rent movies often?
Netflix baby

24. Is there anything sparkly in the room you're in?
Like glittery? No

25. How many countries have you visited?
Mexico, Brazil

26. Have you made a prank phone call?
Innumerable

27. Ever been on a train?
Yes 

28. Brown or white eggs?
I like the brown ones because they make me feel Martha Stewart-ish

29.Do you have a cell-phone?
Who DOESN'T

30. Do you use chap stick?
Every single day

31. Do you own a gun?
I don't know, do I?

32. Can you use chop sticks?
If I'm not ravenously hungry

33. Who are you going to be with tonight?
Pat

34. Are you too forgiving?
I used to be... nowadays I tend to have the opposite problem. Now that I think of it, is there such a thing as "too" forgiving?

35. Ever been in love?
Currently and foreverly

36. What is your best friend(s) doing tomorrow?
Well I have lots and telling you their schedules would take a while

37. Ever have cream puffs?
No

38. Last time you cried?
A few days ago

39. What was the last question you asked?
I don't know!

40. Favorite time of the year?
Fall

41. Do you have any tattoos?
Not yet... ask me in a couple of weeks

42. Are you sarcastic?
Always

43. Have you ever seen The Butterfly Effect?
Oh my gosh YES and it was on TV last week. I had forgotten how good it was. 

44. Ever walked into a wall?
Naturally

45. Favorite color?
Red 

46. Have you ever slapped someone?
Yeah lots of people!

47. Is your hair curly?
Naturally wavy

48. What was the last CD you bought?
I bought a patriotic song off of itunes for my kids' end of the year program. Sooooo cool.

49. Do looks matter?
Well as much as I wish they didn't...

50. Could you ever forgive a cheater?
That's a verrrrry complicated question

51. Is your phone bill sky high?
No

52. Do you like your life right now?
LOVE it

53. Do you sleep with the TV on?
Not unless I accidently take an afternoon nap

54. Can you handle the truth?
Usually

55. Do you have good vision?
20/20 baby!

56. Do you hate or dislike more than 3 people?
Dislike is a real possibility...

57. How often do you talk on the phone?
Depends on the day. Some days a ton, some days not hardly at all.

58. The last person you held hands with?
Pat!

59. What are you wearing?
PJ's

60.What is your favorite animal?
Cat-- minus the litter box and shedding and bad breath

61. Where was your default picture taken?
Addison Park

62. Can you hula hoop?
Awkwardly

63. Do you have a job?
Two

64. What was the most recent thing you bought?

Awesome lotion that smells like summertime!

65. Have you ever crawled through a window?
Yes... like the one time when I was 9 and I "ran away from home" to my grandmothers house two streets away, found she wasn't home, and walked all the way back expecting everyone to be freaking out looking for me. No one had noticed I was gone...

Enjoy the music or press your mute button!

Our new ride!

Well... new to us :)

Thanks, Bill and Lori!

I may be biased, but in my opinion Pat is the most awesome guy ever. I constantly find new reasons to love him. Lately, I've found myself loving him for his creativity. If you haven't yet checked out his Flickr photo stream, DO IT! I am so proud of him and the way he is using his gift to complete his 365 project.

This week has been absolutely insane. I feel like have been going 100 mph since Monday morning. Tomorrow is the big Barnes and Noble event for Coram Deo, so I won't OFFICIALLY begin my weekend until about 1:00 p.m. 

Tomorrow is also the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Gala. The Bendas kindly invited us and I am SO excited. Pat and I haven't been to a formal event in a really long time so it should be fun. 

Paula Deen is making some kind of muffin right now and she just said, "We don't need to grease this pan because there is SO much butter in this. These babies will NOT stick." I love her.

I can't believe my first year of teaching will be over in a week and a half. I also can't believe I'll be doing the EXACT same thing all over again next year. So exciting. No planning, and I actually know what I'm doing! IN ADVANCE! Such a great feeling.

High Family vacation is in 36 days (had to check the calendar for that one). I CANNOT WAIT.

Check out my new playlist! Some of my favorites.

I never know what to title these...

Due to:

1) encouraging words from my sister Mary Beth and

2) a kind nudging from a one Mrs. Jamie Rives, ;)

I am now updating this darn blog.

I'm not all that interesting, and I sometimes feel like this whole idea of writing about myself is narcissistic. Is it? Tell me. 

Warm weather is here! Oh how I love it... until it's been here for a month or two. Then I'll turn around and start complaining about the heat. I try to keep my complaining on a consistent cycle. Summer in Texas is the perfect example of how you CAN have too much of a good thing. I love how my students scream with joy now that they don't have to wear jackets on the playground anymore. In about a week their red, sweaty faces will be begging to go inside. 

One funny thing ( funny in retrospect, I mean) during my first few weeks of teaching happened when my little Margo came up to me on a hot, September day on the playground. She heaved a sigh of exhaustion, grabbed my hand, and rubbed it ALL OVER her sweaty face. 

...I kind of freaked out.

"NO Margo! You cannot do that to people!" 

She then laughed and ran away.

One funny thing (funny in retrospect) that happened TODAY was when I led my students from lunch in the courtyard to our front office where we were to take pictures with our administrative assistant who is retiring. We got there, took the picture, and I stayed for about 1.5 minutes to run a few things by her. When I turned around to lead my kids out to the playground, I found that EVERY single last one of them had completely disappeared. I started down the hall, kind of frantically. There I saw just TWO of my sweet little girls waiting for me.

"WHERE IS EVERYONE ELSE???"

"...They ran out to the playground..."

...I kind of freaked out.

Needless to say, 3/4 of Mrs. Thibodeau's Kindergarten class sat out during recess.

In other news, Pat and I are getting a new SUV! Well, new to us anyway. My parents are selling us their "Big Blue Tonka Truck," as Meredith would say (aka: the FJ Cruiser). We probably won't be actually getting it for a little while since we are insanely busy over the next few weeks, but we're excited. 

It's funny to hear my dad trying to sell a car to us by saying, "You knooow, when you start to have a family you'll need a car like this..." Like that's a huge selling point 10 months after our wedding. :) Oh well. His intentions are good. 

I suppose...

Tomorrow is Wednesday! My favorite day of the week!

LOSTLOSTLOSTLOSTLOSTLOSTLOSTLOSTLOSTLOST.

That is all.

"I have GOT to get a planner!"

...thus the words I uttered after the FIRST forgotten commitment today. When the second one rolled around, I was even more upset at myself.

I have always hated keeping a planner. I buy one at the beginning of the year and tell myself I'll use it and write down all of the important dates I need to remember. Shortly after, I stubbornly and pridefully tell myself, "Who needs a planner? I can remember all this crap all by myself!" And I usually can. 

My mind is like a steel trap when it comes to faces, phone numbers, and dates. I still remember my first phone number and the phone numbers of childhood friends, birthdays of friends' parents, and the faces of pretty much every person I've ever met. OH, let me tell you, I never forget a face. All of this to say that I tend to be pretty prideful about my ability to remember things and stay organized. 

Lately, however, I've noticed that my brain is having trouble handling all of the information I expect it to store and hold for me to remember at the opportune time. I tend to over-plan, commitments sometimes overlap, and I have to arrange the dreaded "reschedulings." I DO need a planner. Make no mistake. 

I also think these situations are arising due to the recent addition of my second job. I had no idea how complicated all of this would be. This all probably ALSO has to do with me aging. I never seem to tire of blaming things on that.

I am not self-sufficient. I really can't do any of this without the help of a planner (and, not to be too terribly trite, the help of my heavenly Planner). 

On an entirely different note, I am growing more and more weary of this horribly cold weather. It is supposed to freeze YET again tonight. Will summer ever come?

Oh, AND, if you haven't joined thegrocerygame.com yet, DO IT. 

You won't be sorry.

Aging, death, and other musings

It's funny to me that 10:55 p.m. is "late" now. 

In my younger days I didn't even yawn until 1:00 or 2:00 a.m. 

Such is life. 

I'm trying to get used to the fact that I graduated high school 5 years ago. 5 years. That is SUCH a long time to me. Maybe it was graduating from college, maybe it was getting married-- SOMETHING has jolted me into hyper-awareness of my age. 

Now, to be clear, I'm not afraid of aging. I look forward to all of the things that growing older will bring to my life. I think I'm just getting used to the fact that this adult chapter of my life is going to be so much longer than that of my childhood. Childhood passed by so quickly (although it definitely didn't seem like it at the time). When I was 8 I probably couldn't have told you what I did 5 months earlier let alone 5 YEARS. It blows my mind that I can say I did something a decade ago, remembering every detail with perfect clarity. 

**Just as a side note, the first thing I thought of when remembering being 12 years old was "RV trips." The Highs were a rambling crew back then.

I'm also getting used to the fact that everyone around me is aging. 

Grandparents, parents, sisters... 

Sisters aging --> precious. I get nieces and nephews (selfish reasoning, but true)! Also, I've noticed that the older we get, the more me and my sisters love each other. That has been a really sweet blessing to me. The older we get, the more we'll be able to laugh about (i.e. poopy diapers, crows feet, grey hair, menopause...).

Grandparents and parents...

That, I don't like to think about so much.

I've always been pretty comfortable talking about my own death. I love my Jesus and I know whatever life brings my way, He will protect me until the day He brings me home to be with Him. Talking about everyone else, though, isn't so easy. I'm very naturally protective of those that I love. It's kind of a maternal instinct. I'm the one who's always checking seatbelts, locking doors, being EXTRA paranoid about strangers, etc. 

I am still learning to trust God to take care of more than just me. Sometimes I tend to think it's up to me to take care of people. I think it's because I can't feel what my loved ones feel. I can't sense the presence of God in their lives like they can. It's hard for me to grasp the fact that they are in His hands just like I am, and that He knows the plans He has for them just like He does for me. 

Anyway, that's what's on my mind tonight.

Tomorrow brings all kinds of joys.

This is Jessica Thibodeau... signing off.

I've been meaning to do this...

My whole life I've been an inconsistent journal keeper. 

I'm committing this time.

Winter should be over by now. Spring teased Dallas just long enough for me to get used to wearing sandals and skirts and all of the lovely things that make me wish I was already tan. I've been procrastinating. Every time I plan to go tanning, something else comes up. Or maybe it's the little voice in the back of my mind screaming, "Don't do it!!!" I don't care what anyone says. Pale is not cute in the summertime. Sorry Mom.

Pat and I are home and relaxing for the first weekend in a few. Saturdays are wonderful. I'm so glad God gave us jobs that allow us to spend so much time together. 

All week I've been DYING for something sweet. I passed up pure cupcake perfection yesterday at Society Bakery, and I broke down today and decided I had to have something. Not feeling like driving all the way across town for a cupcake at SB, Pat took me to Corner Bakery Cafe. Talk about a letdown. Anyway, to make a long story short, we ended up stopping off at good old Wal-Mart to get a Funfetti mix and frosting. 

For those of you who don't know, I'm obsessed with cupcakes. Cupcakes with SPRINKLES, to be exact. There are few material things in this life that give me greater joy. I'm often asked what makes a cupcake different from a slice of cake. That, my friend, is an ignorant question that does not even dignify an answer.

So, after some dinner, I got to enjoy a my treat and settle in for the latest arrival from the old Netflix queue. Mamma Mia! was disappointing. I'm a total musical lover but this one just didn't grab me. Pat has been building a new computer all weekend and therefore had a much-needed excuse to avoid watching. I'm Not There is next. I'm fully confident that it will be much more enjoyable.

I guess that's all for today.