Oral Surgery ORDEAL!!

 

 

November 21, 2012

 

 

Can I just state for the record that I HATE going to the dentist because EVERYTHING they do to my teeth makes them hurt for days.  Even cleaning.....yes, I am blessed with extremely sensitive teeth....thanks, Mom and Dad.

 

 

In February of this year I had a root canal done because I woke up one morning and my jaw was bursting and angry with infection.  So, off to the dentist I go just to receive the wonderful (not) news that I needed a root canal, but because it was so infected, and it had burst, I had to do a full round of antibiotics before it could be done.  Terrific!  So drugged with pain medicine and antibiotics I waited the 3 weeks and then went back.  Lots of drilling and hours later, I emerged with just half the thing done!  Give me a break....the tooth is so sensitive and infected still that we have to let the medicine work a few more days and then come back.  Tremendous.  Remember, I hate the dentist office....just saying.  So I go back, and they finish it up, and make the temporary crown....wait 3 weeks, go back get glued....WHEW!!! I have survived!  That place has nice people, but it's an evil place!

 

Fast forward to the beginning of  October....think about a lovely court room where I am set to testify in a court case.  Wonder of wonders.....I wake up and my jaw is swollen and bursting yet again in the same place!  I took some pain medicine, but not too much because I obviously can't be a pathetic lump on the witness stand! I mean, I have to be able to remember my name and what happened in the case.  Made it thru the court stuff, and called the dentist.  Long story short, MORE antibiotic, pain medicine, and a trip to see a specialist.  At this point I can see the nightmare just starting all over again.  The specialist is really nice, pokes and prods, takes xrays.  See this pretzel shaped thing hanging from the root of the tooth that had the root canal.  NOT GOOD!   REALLY NOT GOOD!!

 

The specialist leaves me sitting there, and goes and calls my dentist.  They powwow about me for about 20 minutes.  I'm thinking...tremendous, can I just pull the thing and be done with it?

 

He comes back, and tells me that I have to contact my dentist who is going to give me the name of an oral surgeon.  ARE YOU KIDDING ME??  I have a tumor or some kind of cyst that is growing on the outside of the root of my tooth causing this infection to keep flaring up.  It's not something that the regular dentist had any way of knowing would happen when he did the root canal, and it will require oral surgery to remove and a bone graft to rebuild the bone that it has destroyed.  GREAT!!  I just so excited.  I just cannot wait to tell Guy.....is there not a year that can go by without some complicated something I have to do?

 

So I go home, call the dentist, call the oral surgeon and keep taking a heavier dose of antibiotic from the specialist.

 

I go to the surgeon, more fancy xrays, and sure enough there is something growing in there destroying all my jawbone, and making my jaw very angry and loosening my teeth.  Can this news get any better?  Surgery is required sooner than later, and how about next Tuesday? Absolutely tremendous....and where is Guy?  Can we just say out of town?  He will be back for surgery day, and will then leave again.  I'm just so excited!  Sorry if you are not feeling my enthusiasm....

 

At this point because the infection is so extensive, my entire system is just saying enough already....so I retire to bed, drug myself and proceed to become everyone's comic relief for the evening.  Glad this whole situation is at least somewhat beneficial to someone.

 

 

Well, surgery day arrives, I have drank my energy drink so that my blood sugar doesn't bottom out, and have starved myself for hours.  Off to the office, where Guy pays because for some reason our dental insurance doesn't think the surgery should be covered....excuse me....that's another story.  They put me out with some sort of medicine that makes you feel drunk I guess....having never been drunk I'm not so sure.  However, when I wake up I have a very swollen mouth thats been cut open, stretched out, cleaned out, and finally stitched back together, and the room is spinning.  I asked them to go get Guy, as he is my stablizing influence, and can you imagine?  They refused to get him until I could stand up by myself....ok, but aren't you going to roll me out to the car in a wheel chair?  Why do I have to stand up?  And, they are choking me with cotton strips!  And why is there pretty birdies in the room?

 

Thank goodness that stuff wore off fairly soon, or Guy would have been rolling....it was bad enough when they did finally let him in!  Can I just say that there ought to be some sort of law that your husband is not allowed to laugh at you when you are waking up from surgery?  I mean isn't he supposed to be the Knight in Shining Armour, there to save you from evil dentists, and oral surgeons?

 

Well, we made it home, and Guy put me to bed and then spent the day catering to my drugged and spaced out needs....I think he was secretly laughing when he left the room every time....just saying.

 

The next morning I woke up and my entire side of my face was numb!  Tremendous!  Fabuluous!  I just can't think of anything I would rather have.  You know that feeling of numbness when you leave the dentist's office after dental work that lasts for hours.  Well, a month later, I still have it, but only on about half my bottom lip.  The surgeon says that he didn't cut my nerves because I can feel it when he tortures me with shocks, and gently slaps my lip....sounds like patient abuse to me.  NOT really!  And the best news is that it will probably last for about 6 months!  SAY WHAT???

 

Did I ever tell the surgeon that I wanted to lose a chunk of weight because I wouldn't be able to feed myself?  Did I say that I wanted to slobber every drink I tried to drink even from a straw all down the front of myself?  Did I tell him that I wanted to have out of control blood sugar for a few days because he shot my jaw full of steroids to help the bone graft "take" better?  Did I mention that I teach a class full of teenagers who are going to laugh at me when I can't talk properly each Sunday?  Did I tell him anything about wanting to have the taste of stitches in my mouth, or eat mashed potatoes for days and days?

 

So currently, a month later, I am still having difficulty eating and drinking, but am not quite the comic relief that I was because I have mostly stopped taking the pain medicine.  Some days the tingling just turns to hurting and you just can't stand it.  And when he checks it with his shocker thing...then it burns all day.  All I can say is that these stretched out nerves just need to pull it together and deal because I really am sick of this whole situation.  However, the 10 pound weightloss hasn't hurt.  I told the surgeon that I was recommending him as a weightloss doctor....he doesn't believe me.

 

They tell me this is better than pulling the tooth and having to live thru reconstruction.....I have my doubts!  Just saying!!

And I told those teenager that whoever laughs at me teaches the lesson....

Cymbre's Mum for Homecoming

November 21, 2012

 



 

 

As previous stated I am slow to get these posted.....so whatever!

 

Anyway, here's Cymbre's homecoming mum that she wore to school all day on game day.  No one really knows the reason they make and wear these things, but we down here in Texas carry on the expensive tradition anyway.

 

Cymbre ready for school.

 

 

 

In all her Beastly glory!!  We love this Beast!

Cooper's Homecoming Group

November 21, 2012

 

So I am just a little slow getting the rest of these posted.  I had oral surgery, so I feel like I have a good excuse.

 

At any rate, here's the group that went to homecoming with Cooper.

 

Posing in Ms. Christine's backyard by her pool.  She's the next door neighbor.



Cooper and Slade

 



The girls

 



 

Slade

 



 

The entire group

 

 

Being silly

 

 

Loading up in the Mini Cooper

 

 

 

They are off!

Homecoming A Little Belated!

 

October 10, 2012

 

Well, these photos are almost a month overdue, but I have been just a bit sidetracked.

 

Here's the Homecoming photos of Cooper....Cymbre's to follow.....

 

 

The sparkly dress, and the jacket Mom made!  Glitter shoes too.

 

 

 

Slades homecoming garter.  For some unknown reason there is a tradition in this here foreign nation of Texas that we live in that the girls make garters for their dates and the boys get mums for the girls.  No one seems to know why we do this, but we do, and it's a very expensive tradition to uphold considering there is no logical reason....just saying.   And no, Cooper did not make the garter....you guessed it, Mom did!

 

 

Ever the gentleman, Slade brought her flowers.  Then he tied them on her with a scout knot....his mom came to the rescue with a pretty bow to hide the knot.   Can't tell Slade he isn't prepared....go Boy Scouts!

 

 

Slade even got a tie to match her dress....she is impressed!

 

 

Gotta love the batman belt buckle....it's his silver to go with her dress!  Thanks to Tati's dad for helping Slade stike his pose1

 

 

 

 

Cooper's group inside on our stairs.....outside photos next post.

Samuel The Lamanite Visits Sunday School

 

September 9, 2012

 

 

Once again we had an ancient prophet come visit our Sunday School class.  Brother Herrera played the part of Samuel the Lamanite, a Book of Mormon prophet.  I took his script straight out of the scriptures, and then the class REALLY enjoyed throwing stones (light weight balls) at him!

 

 

The class treats that day were the rice krispie treats stacked up on the corner of the table with a small action figure of Samuel the Lamanite from the church bookstore.

 

This is all the kids in my class that day posing with Samuel the Lamanite.

While Samuel was talking, the kids were silently passing out the stones (balls) so that they would be ready to stone him when he was done.  The paper across the front of the table is the city wall that Samuel was standing on calling the people of the town to repentance.

 





The passing out of the stones....

 

I had to keep telling them it wasn't time yet....but when I said go, there were balls flying EVERYWHERE!

 



 

 

At the end of the class period, I let them have a few minutes to throw the balls at each other....the problem was, I was caught in the crossfire!

 

 

 

And then it was clean up time.....and again the boys threw the balls at me because I was holding the container to put them away in!

 

One of these days I will get even with them.....

 

They even devoured the entire city wall before they left....I'm pretty sure there were some very stuffed pockets and purses!  Just saying....

 



We Have Survived The First 3 Days Of School!

August 30, 2012

 

We have officially survived the first three days of school.  The girls are dragging because of seminary and dance in the mix, but they are holding it together.  Thank goodness for a few minutes sleep after home work is done...just saying.

 

My biggest gripe is that they make you buy all these school supplies before school, and then the kids come home with a thing or two each day that you have to get.  And you can't wait until the end of the week to get them all at once because then it is a MOB scene at whatever store you choose to go to, and you end up without what you need anyway.  I went to Office Depot the other night in search of pocket dividers...forget Target and Walmart....and the line was clear around the perimeter of the store.  So, I just hid the dividers in among the file folders and went back for them the next morning when there wasn't a line.  And then yesterday, Cooper comes home and needs quality watercolors.....great, wonderful, tremendous!  We went to two stores before we even found watercolors that weren't meant for kindergarteners, and then paid the price of an entire lunch out for the things.  SO, today I am hoping for a shopping free day except for a quick visit to pick up some medicine....

 

The girls are LOVING their dance classes and new teachers this year, but their favorites are still Ms. Andee, Ms. Traci, Ms. Josie, and Ms. Amy...although Ms. Emily is quickly sneaking in there as is Ms. Meg.  It's Cooper's senior year, so she is anxious to do as much dancing as possible to fill her brain with as much technique as possible, so Dad and her will be migrating downtown several times a month in an effort to expand her abilities.  They are both teaching baby classes, and boy do they LOVE their babies!

 

I've changed my diabetes doctor, and the other day I was actually out of there in less than an hour!   WOW....can you believe that I didn't have to spend my entire morning in a waiting room, and I didn't have to pay tons of money for bloodwork that my family doctor has just completed?  I had a tough time deciding what to do with my free time....so I took myself to lunch!  Currently we are working on adjust the insulin because I told the new doctor that I was sick of eating when I wasn't hungry just to keep ahead of the dosage of medicine and that the other doctor wouldn't let me take less....she thought the other doctor was dumb, and so maybe we can get things so that I am not having to get up in the middle of the night and eat because my blood sugar is way too low...we'll see.

 

Guy has finished making Cymbre's flowerbeds all over the yard, and I really like the brickwork he did...guess I'll keep him around...besides, I don't think I can live without him.

 

Competition solos are in the perfecting stages, and the girls are starting their last tap duet together....it's going to be tough to watch them dance together for the final time at the end of this year....me and Ms. Andee will be sharing a box of tissues backstage I am sure!!

 

On the Sunday School front, I am working on pulling together the Samuel the Lamanite lesson for next week, and then the Gadianton Robber lesson for the week after....both have special things happening, and the kids are looking forward to them.  Hope I can pull it off...I mean, I do have a reputation to uphold.  I have a man who is going to play Samuel the Lamanite, and some very light weight balls for the kids to throw at him while he stand on the city wall, and then I am going to dress them up as gadianton robbers the following week and send them into Gospel Doctrine to rob some of the targeted men who have agreed to help me.  Should be interesting to see how the adult class reacts when we storm the place....a member of our bishopric is going to be the leader of the robbers.  Cymbre will be the photographer.

 

The medicine the doctor is forcing me to take to get me up and moving again after all the drama and stress around here for the past couple of years is making things a bit better...I actually bought some material the other day to make something.  Haven't cut it out yet, but have been sidetracked by all the lesson stuff to do.  Hopefully, I can managed to recover from this severe stress level and breakdown and get my act together again.

 

Guess that's about all the news for today...must get the laundry folded.

 

 

 

UGH!!

August 16, 2012

So we had them come and install windows across the back of ths house, including the kitchen and family room.  They will actually OPEN!  So now those days in December and January when there is actually low humidity and a cool breeze.....I WILL be opening the windows, and the best part is those little critters like lizards, fly, spiders, crickets, roaches, and wasps or swamps as Cymbre calls them WILL NOT be coming in!!!!

They are double pane, vinyl windows with sun blocking stuff sprayed on them, and already the kitchen and family room are livable!   FINALLY after 10 years we can live in the back part of our house when it's 110 outside and still manage to be able to breath without suffocating!   I even baked a cake yesterday during the afternoon!!!

So, we've learned that when air conditioner people can't manage to make their units do what they guarantee they can do, that you call the window guys....who really make the house hot when they take out all the windows, but then by some miracle when they put the windows in place....EVERYTHING cools down and stays where it's supposed to be!   FINALLY....just saying.  We may even manage to eat dinner with sweating tonight!   And Christmas cookie baking will not necessitate shower breaks!!

NOW the big problem is that because there were not burglar alarm wires on the old windows because they didn't open, and we have a two story home, if we want the wires they have to make holes in the walls from the attic, 2nd floor and first floor in order to install the sensors...EXCUSE ME???  At least the new door that isn't a full door window has wires.  SO, I guess we are moving into the 21st century and will be wireless alarmed in the back part of our house....terrific....why can't we just have ONE THING that doesn't have expensive complications?  Just what part of the universe have we offended that EVERYTHING we do, no matter what it is a big complicated MESS!!

AND our other problem is that I have to go testify in the court case involving the guy who tried online solitation, and got caught!  Great....let's just put the victims crazy mom on the stand to tell a judge what she thinks the man's punishment should be....and not let me tell the judge the death penalty would be the best option!  The DA thinks that penalty would be a bit harsh....well in my opinion it's the best option for not wasting my tax dollars....just saying.

And when I get home from court, I am taking my medicine, and checking into the little pink polka dot rubber room they have reserved for me to attempt to continue recovering from my nervous breakdown!  I'm taking some crazy friends with me to keep me company, and I will except calls from Jack and Lucy!  Hopefully I will recover in time to put the finishing touches on the Gadianton Robbers lesson for Sunday School....I mean we can't have an entire class of gadianton robbers running amuck during church can we.....

On that note, I must go practice using some restraint....yeah, wish we luck with that!  The DA says the judge likes moms though, so maybe I can get a break!

More later.....

Tap Kids 2

August 10, 2012

And more Tap Kids.....

Our lovely home away from home.  It has a swimming pool, hot tub, hot breakfast daily, suites for rooms with little kitchens, and LOTS of TAP DANCING friends all over the place!

Cooper getting ready for the day....



A little free time for lunch on Church street.  There were all these really cute painted bears all up and down the street.

Three Tomatoes...Cooper's favorite place to eat!



Baby Lucy's business....we never knew!

Cooper's Tap Jamming

August 10, 2012

Here's Cooper at the Tap Jam the first night of Tap Kids.....

Tap Kids

August 10, 2012

Here's just some misc. photos from Tap Kids.  We were in Burlington, Vermont for 10 days of tap dancing all day to culminate in 2 shows on the last day.  Cooper LOVES this dance intensive, and she really enjoys all the friends she gets to see again.  Kids come from all over the nation, and are selected by audition to participate in this program.  This year they selected 68 kids.

The dance studio where all the rehearsals and classes take place.

It's at two minute walk from the hotel you stay in.



The first night - orientation - tap jam.  The kids can hardly wait to start tap dancing!

Cooper with Taylor and Kaleigh.



Show closing number.  Cooper has on the teal shirt in the second row.

Sign welcoming the Tap Kids outside the dance studio.



Lizards Don't Make Good Kickballs!

July 30, 2012

Cooper and I have made it home from Tap Kids in Vermont, and I will post photos later....we are getting back in the dance rut.  Fall dance classes will start right after the dance intensives this week.  Thankfully,  I got the fall registration completed while we were in Vermont, so now I just have to write the checks.

The other day when we were just about to leave to go do some shopping, a tiny lizard decided to invade my turf!  That's really not a good idea....just saying.  My hands were full of my purse and other such things ready to walk out to the car, so I just tried to kick him back outside.  The dumb lizard didn't cooperate.  I'm just saying.....he would still be alive today had he just cooperated and taken my hint that I didn't want him in my house!!  No, instead he must have put glue on his feet, because he didn't hardly move even though I kicked him pretty good.  Then we found him rolled up in a ball closer to the door, so again we kicked him.  In the end, he is dead in the hole in the doormat....and I don't care.  I hope his mother or father come looking for him and have to cart away his carcass.....I'd say he learned his lesson the hard way!

While I have been gone, Guy and Cymbre have been hard at work on the flowerbeds outside, a new kitchen faucet, the kitchen tile scrubbed and sealed by Sears, the master bath painted, trees pruned, paths built, and repainted the address numbers on the curb.....it all just wears me out.  And now the kitchen lightbulbs all match.  Cymbre says it took a couple of trips to Lowe's to accomplish that task.  Guess Guy couldn't remember which one he liked best....doesn't matter, they all match now.  It's all mood lighting to me anyway with those new energy efficient bulbs!

I was sitting in the bathtub the other night looking at the paint job Guy had done, and it dawned on me that the curtains around the tub looked funny to me.  So I sat there, trying to figure out what the problem was.  Then finally it dawned on me that when he washed the curtains, he put them back on the rod thru where the ruffle is supposed to be, so they are not as fancy without the ruffle.  So I need to climb around the tub and fix them.....guess it doesn't matter, at least he washed and ironed them with starch!

Guess that's about all for today...must run and get some stuff for dinner.



Anti Nephi Lehi's Buried Their Swords!

July 8, 2012

Today in Sunday School we talked about the Anti Nephi Lehi's who when they were converted they buried their weapons of war because they wanted to repent, and never commit the murders they had previously been committing.  We talked about conversion, and how that changes our hearts and our attitudes.  Then I took them outside with my british shovel....yes, it works the same as an american shovel, and I had Spencer dig a hole in the church flowerbed.  It was sprinkling rain.  So when the hole was dug, then they started passing their swords down a line and Dallas reverently put them all in the hole.  Maddy was upset because Dallas got some dirt on her sword, but in the end they were all covered up with dirt!  Spencer put the dirt back in the hole and tapped it down, and finished up....then he took the shovel and turned away and said "What hole?"  Then we went back into class.

Once back in the classroom we talked about what could be our weapons of war or rebellion today.  They came up with immorality, cheating, lying, sins, and I added racism, social bias, stubbornness, pride, deliberate irritation, religious persecutions, gossiping.  Then we talked about what blessings we can gain if we can just bury our weapons of rebellion, and LEAVE them buried.  Not dig them up again a few days later to just gossip a little bit more, or to cheat on one more test.  But to really repent and leave them buried, and to then rely on the Savior to back us up and preserve us against our enemies.

Then we talked a bit more about Ammon and the Sons of Mosiah and the missions to the Lamanites that they had fulfilled.  How Ammon was sort of boasting, and that Aaron called him out on it.  Then we talked about how he wasn't really boasting about himself, but about the Lord, and how they had all become instruments at the hand of the Savior to build up His kingdom.  We talked about what we would need to be an instrument in the hands of the Savior, and I brought it back around to the fact that we needed to be without the weapons of rebellion that we were burying in order to be receptive to the Spirit, and to truly become an instrument in the hands of the Savior.

Then as their treat today, I had light saber suckers that lit up.  They look like swords, and the kids were THRILLED!

Guy said that in priesthood opening exercises, the boys in my class had their swords in their belts like you would carry a sword, and they were dueling it out with their light sabers......

Cooper came home from EFY and told me that the kids were counting on me having a great lesson to tie up the EFY week...no pressure, right?

All in all, it appears that I came through to tie up the EFY week with a fun Sunday School lesson.....score one more for the crazy teacher!  I think that's like 25 by now....just saying!

I Totally Understand!

July 7, 2012

After the last several months dealing with issues, I can totally understand this photo that my sister put on facebook!

Mom's Card For Father's Day....It's Dad's Favorite!

July 4, 2012

Here's a video of Dad reading Mom's Father's Day card....it's his favorite....just saying!

PS  Have a great 4th of July!

Father's Day A Little Late

July 4, 2012

Here's the Father's Day post....I know a little late....but better late than never as they say!

We got Dad a dryer vent cleaner outer....otherwise known as a leaf blower!

 

Cooper's very long card....

Cooper made a treat bucket for Dad to take to his office....it has healthy treats, you know crackers, nuts, and a few M & M's.

A new purple shirt from Cymbre....her solo costume has a matching one for next year.



Cooper Senior Picture previews

July 2, 2012

Here's the previews of Cooper's Senior pictures.....I think we are in TROUBLE!!!

This is her tap solo costume for Mark Goodman's solo.....Baby You Got What It Takes.

The Photographer just put this floppy hat on her, and Cymbre is laying down holding up the weeds because Cooper can't stand in the field because of her allergies.

The photographer REALLY LUCKED out when she got this shot.   I thought Cooper was going to tear her tuxedo.   It's her tap solo costume for Can't Buy Me Love.

This is the one everybody thinks looks the most like Cooper.  Cymbre is her stylist for her clothes!

The GLAMOUR shot!

Note From Dad!

September 11, 2009

Here's the note Dad left on my mirror yesterday! I'm keeping it!

Ammon And The King's Flocks

July 1, 2012

Ammon was tending the King's flocks when the Lamanites decided to scatter the sheep today in Sunday School.

Needless to say, chaos ensued, but we all learned a lesson about being a good missionary....gaining people's trust, setting a good example, not being prideful or bragging, and then taking the opportunity to teach gospel principles.

Jordan, Cooper, and Austin are Lamanites.  Maddy is a servant sent to tend the flocks with Ammon.

Ammon and the King's Servants are wearing the floor length costumes.

Arms are flying everywhere.....

some of the Lamanites have an extra arm if you look closely.

The sheeps are the ones with the white capes, and yes, I am a sheep....but I'm still teaching the lesson.

Austin, Dallas, Slade as Lamanites, and Jaren as Ammon

The Lamanites are tending to band together once they started loosing arms!  Austin used his sword to sharpen his fingernails.....in the heat of battle....really Austin!

Then we gathered up the arms, and the servants took them back to the King while Ammon went to take the sheep back into the pasture, and tend the King's chariot and horses.

We talked about how serving people, gaining their confidence, setting a good example all help people to be more receptive to our message as missionaries.

I told them that this isn't just a blood and guts kind of story from the scriptures, but that it has revelance for us today....reminding them that the Book of Mormon was written anciently for us today.  We talked about our influence as missionaries, and how our actions can influence people to listen to our message.  How gaining someone's trust can greatly influence their ability to believe what we have to tell them.  Then we talked about how the King Lamoni had taken Ammon to see his father, the King in the Land of Nephi and how he had believed what Ammon had to say, and had Ammon teach his people.  I'm not to sure that the kids had thought about this being a missionary story before...there were some looks of amazement during my explanation.  So in the end, several hundred people accepted the gospel because of one man's ability to use his spiritual power in a way that touched their hearts.

Just as a side note....they were posting photos of class on Instagram before church was even over today......One more point for the crazy Sunday School teacher....Just saying!

Next week is the Anti-Nephi-Lehi's....do you suppose the Bishop would let me bury construction paper weapons in the church flower bed?  Just a thought......

FINALLY!

June 20, 2012

After some major problems with my email account, and having to link to another account thru a temporary account, and Caleb's MAJOR encouragement....I DID IT!  I managed to reopen my blog!!!  Now if I could just understand why we had to change it around in the first place, we would all be more knowledgeable!

However, who knows....it works again.

This week has created some challenges in getting Cooper down to the MET for her dance intensive, getting Cymbre to girl's camp, and getting attacked by a bird in the Target parking lot, and meeting up with the homeless man I have befriended.

Cooper has been dancing in a dance intensive downtown at the MET for two weeks now.  Last week I had to drive her everyday, which meant that Cymbre had to ride along too so that we had 3 people in the car for the HOV lane.  Cymbre wasn't too impressed!  However, she was a good sport.  It takes an hour and a half to do the round trip when we leave at 7:30 am in the rush hour traffic.  So to reward ourselves one morning we went and got donuts for breakfast.  We were sitting at the table eating our two donuts when this older couple came in.  The woman asked us if they could join us, and they looked pretty safe, so I said yes.  BIG MISTAKE!  While they were friendly enough and asked Cymbre what her summer plans were, I wasn't sure we were going to be able to break up their conversation with us in order to get Cymbre to girl's camp on time.  The lady was carrying on about how her grandson was going to boy scout day camp, and it was far away, and her son had to drive him there and then go back for him, and why can't they just sleep over?  Then we had to hear about how they come for donuts and coffee every morning, and if you buy the cups the store will refill them for free.  The man was setting up the coffee cups, buying donuts, and arranging a napkin as a table covering in front of his wife all the while she was talking.  We finished our donuts, and Cymbre was looking at me like.....Mom, how are we going to get out of here?  I just picked up our trash and stood up and said to the lady...We've really enjoyed talking to you but we really must get her things packed in order to get her to girl's camp, so we must say our goodbyes.  Cymbre looked at me, stood up, and started walking to the car.  On the way out, she was like....Mom, I was really thinking we were never going to get away from her.  And when I looked back into the store, they were changing tables anyway....after all that set up effort.  INTERESTING......

So now, Cymbre is safely off to girl's camp until tomorrow morning when I have to drive a carload home.  It's another 2 1/2 hour drive each way....

Cooper and Hannah have one more day of dance downtown....thank goodness.  I don't know how many more days Hannah's mom and I can deal with all that traffic every morning! And we have alternated doing the driving. Today, I was almost run off the road by a guy who just decided to take over my lane while I was still using it.  Needless to say....he heard my horn for a long time!  AND I kept my lane....just saying.  Score one for the carpool Mom!!

Then another day, I had gone to Target to pick up a few things, and parked near the entrance to the store.  I walked under this tree next to my car, and the big black bird swooped down and starting attacking my head!  I didn't do anything to it....guess it doesn't like people walking under the tree.   Anyway, I beat the thing with my umbrella and he flew away with some very ruffled wing feathers!  I walked away with messed up hair, and a scratch bleeding on my head!  When I texted my grandson about what happened, he told me that I didn't need to worry as birds don't eat people....so I asked him what about my bleeding scratch...did it deserve a hug....he just said a sleepy....okay.   So now I am hoping that because I came home and washed the scratch and put neosporin on it that I won't get some strange bird disease!  So I guess if I start chirping and flying away, someone needs to tie my foot to the ground and call someone!

Another day this week, I went to Walmart to pick up a few things that I didn't get the day before because when I was in the grocery store, the weather caused the power to go out.  When that happens, the store has about 20 minutes that they can check people out before they loose their back up generator.  So I just paid and left.  So when I came out of Walmart, I went to make the turn to go home and stopped at the light.  There was the homeless man who I have befriended and fed on many occassions.  I still don't know his name, but he recognizes me when he sees me.  He came up to the car, said hello and I told him I had something for him.  He said since it was Monday, he could only take $100's.  I told him he was in luck....I was giving him 400 pennies.  That was all the one dollar bills I had in my purse.  He just smiled, took the money, and I wished him a wonderful day.  He turned back and said...I can always count on you.  Interesting, because it is weeks between when I see him each time, but yes, when I see him I either drive around the corner and bring him some food from Wendy's or Taco Bell, or give him some money.  I have been known to sit on the street corner and eat with him.  I don't know his story, but I do know he is a friendly, well-mannered man who has a wonderful smile even though his teeth are rotted and black.

My Sunday School class thinks I am a lunatic for feeding him, let alone sitting there and eating with him, or giving him money.  But I just wonder, how do I know that isn't the Savior?  And if it is, do I really want to be found not helping him?  I don't ever really miss the money I give him or spend getting him food.  And he isn't like some of the people who stand on the corner and beg for money...you just get the feeling that he really is homeless and in need of someone to help him out.  So sue me, I help!  My girls even recognize him when they see him, and they say mom there's that man we help.  So it can't be all bad, they have at least learned something.

Two weeks ago the lesson in Sunday School was about pride and humility.  So during the lesson, I was telling the kids that pride can really get us in trouble.  Then I told them that when I died I wanted to be in charge of the lightning bolts.  They all got really big eyes!  Then I said that I could really use them to get back at some of the people who have really irritated me while I was here on earth.  Then I told them that I really SHOULD NOT feel like that.  Because it was pride talking.  I shouldn't feel like I was better than anyone else, and could use lightning bolts to get even with them.  So now there is a running joke in my class regarding....don't make Sister Flanagan mad....she's going to be in charge of lightning bolts!  Guess I got their attention!

And this week, the lesson was about Alma teaching the people in Ammonihah.  It talked about how they were so mean to him, and how they spit on him and cast him out.  But while he was on the road leaving the town, the same angel who had previously appeared to him to tell him to quit trying to destroy the church appeared again to him.  This time the angel told him to return again to Ammonihah, and to tell the people to repent.  So I told the kids the story, and then asked them if they thought that Alma thought when the angel came for the second time.....NOT you again.  I'm not doing anything wrong.  What do you want this time?  Well, that set them all laughing!  But they laugh at me all the time anyway.  They think they have a crazy teacher.....but they do listen to what I say.  Anyway, we then continued the story about how Alma went back into the city of Ammonihah, and met up with Amulek.  Then I showed them a box and told them that it had a hula dancing monkey inside.  I didn't show it to them, but asked who believed me.  Only a couple out of the 18 sitting there.  So I called up a boy, who I know tried to put things over on the others all the time, and showed him what was in my box, and told him to tell the class what it was.  He looked, and then told them it was a hula dancing monkey.  So then I asked them how many believed me now.  Well, more than half the class.  SO, then I talked about how come they believed two of us saying the same thing even though I said the same thing when I was speaking alone?  Then I established that the Lord ALWAYS establishes His word in the mouths of two or more witnesses.  Then I finished the story of how Alma and Amulek went about teaching the people in Ammonihah the same gospel principles.  And this time, some of the people believed them.  However, it was Father's Day and I didn't remember to take them treats, so now they think I need to repent and bring treats this week.....will I ever get one up on these kids?

On that note, I think I will go see if that homeless guy is still on the street corner and share a burrito with him.....I could use some blessings today!!

Here We Go Again....

June 10, 2012

Just before church today I get a phone call from a teacher who loves to just dump her class of around 15 kids on me at the last minute on a Sunday morning.  Today I told her that I couldn't take her class.....she asked me why?  I just told her that I had some special things planned for my class and I didn't have enough to go around for her class too.  She tries to do this on a regular basis, and I've helped her out before, but it is getting out of hand.  She has "emergencies" every other week it seems.

I teach the 16-18 year olds, and her class is 12-13 year olds.  My class thinks they are the "babies", and they don't want them in our class.  My class is very protective of their crazy teacher who does crazy things, and I guess they just don't like to share the craziness!  The Bishopric member tells me on a regular basis if they even think of mentioning a change of teacher for my class....they are afraid of the revolt they will have on their hands.  It's true...I'm not trying to brag here....just saying.  Guess that means I won't be retiring anytime soon.....

 

So when we get to church Guy goes to talk to the bishopric member over Sunday School.  He tells Guy that they will talk to the teacher who keeps trying to just dump her class in mine.....ok.....SO

 

I start to teach my class, and then there are several kids from the 14-15 year old class that come into mine.....WHAT??

 

I let them stay, but then after church I emailed the SS president and told him that my class was not the dumping ground for any teacher who decided they would not be in church today.  I have 18 kids in my class, so when they decide to put other classes in mine I can have up to 30 kids when I am prepared for 18.

Teaching that many kids isn't the problem for me....heck, I could teach 100....but the problem is when you are prepared with an activity for 18, or  treats or handouts and suddenly you have so many extra what do you do?  My class knows that I have them....they look forward to them....and my class doesn't want their baby siblings in their class.  So I defended my class today.....guess we'll see what happens now.  The SS President said he sent the ones in today because there were 4 in the class....excuse me....then teach 4 kids.  I told him I thought that the SS Presidency should have taught the other class, and in the future I would appreciate being asked if I can take extra kids.

The bigger problem is that the younger kids ALL want to be in my class because they have been once, and they hear about what I do.....I should say the crazy things I do....and they want to participate too.  Maybe what we need is just a gospel doctrine youth class instead of this mass of confusion every week.  No, I'm not volunteering!  There is a limit to my craziness....just saying.

I must admit having lots of kids could come in handy when we play Gadianton Robbers, or the 2000 Stripling Warriors, or when we do the Ammon protecting the king's flock story....I mean some of them could be sheep! It could be fun to have a whole bunch of kids for the Samuel the Lamanite on the city wall story, or even next year for the mobs that attack the pioneers.  It's a different thing though when we are talking about more serious things with object lessons, and intimate sharing of testimonies.  And where were all these kids when we were building our ship the beginning of the year?

Today I took mirrors for my class with a question, Have you received His image in your countenance?  attached.  The lesson was about how Alma the Younger was teaching all the people in Zarahemla and Gideon.  And he asks them a series of questions....hence the question.  We talked about people in the ward that I can sometimes see their love for the Savior....a man seminary teacher, my visiting teacher, our stake president, the prophet.  We talked about repentance, and how truly being converted helps us to have the image of the Savior in our countenance.    I told them that Alma chapter 7 was like a contact lens for us regarding the Savior and his purpose in coming to earth.  We talked about pride, and being humble. We talked about how pride makes us feel like we are better than everyone.....and I told them that when I die I wanted to be in charge of the lightning bolts....so I could get back at the people who irritated me here on earth.....then how bad it was that I sometimes thought that.  My class decided that it was probably not a good thing to upset Sister Flanagan!  We talked about the difference it makes in our lives when we decide that the worldly things of this life....fancy clothes, homes, cars really don't make up for the things that being humble can bring into our lives.  The ability to serve others, to share what we have been given, to sacrifice, to strengthen our testimonies.

Then I watched as those 16 year old kids came up and picked up a mirror to take it home.  One of the boys said to me....Sister Flanagan....I have to have an octagon shaped one for my room.....OK....take one.  You would think that a 16 year old boy would think a mirror was something he didn't really need.

Score one for the crazy teacher!

Abinadi's Visit

May 25, 2012

On May 13, 2012 Abinadi came to visit my Sunday School Class.  In reality, it is a member of our Bishopric who is over the Sunday School, and a friend.  I made the costumes, and wrote his script....straight out of the scriptures.

Calling King Noah and his guards and priests to repentance!



King Noah and his guards...guards are the kids wearing the yellow scarves.

Alma is the young man who has a yellow and blue scarf seated 2 to the right of the king.

Class photo with Abinadi....if you look carefully, you can see the ring of fire folded up on the chair on the right.

Now you can see Alma better, and the kids with the blue scarves are the King's Priests.....who are also wicked.

Abinadi preaching

Stay tuned for further visits.