The Good Times and the Bad

I had a great and challenging couple of days.  Let's start with the great-  Kathy and her wonderful husband Dave  hosted a beautiful farewell party in my honor at their house in the country.  I cannot express how emotional it was for me when my secretary- Ms Jeanne- gave me the biggest complement any educator could ask for.  To quote her " I have never seen Lynn give up on a kid. "  Wow!  thanks Jeannie for such precious words.  They will stay with me always.  We had an awesome time sitting around the fire and talking.  There was good food,  good memories, and  great friends.  Thanks again Kathy for a beautiful evening!  Thanks to all who came out.  It was a great family event- just as I wanted it!   Kirk and I brought our puppy Buster out.  His mom and dad live there.  They all got along fine and were fun to watch.  Here are some pics to share:

Kathy giving me my final ARD- if only that were true!

The rest of the good- I went to Dallas on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday and had a great interview with DISD.  I am in stage 3 of the principal search with them.  I enjoyed my time there and would love to be a principal in their district.  I also saw my new house for the first time.  Kirk picked it out and did a great job.  It is in the lake Highlands area of Dallas and about 10 minutes from the kids and 20 minutes from mom and dad.  Here is my beautiful, charming house in east Dallas..

The Challenging part- we packed our house all weekend and had to get it ready for painting.  Kirk and I worked hard and Abbey helped us as well.  Connor was in Washington all weekend and came home Monday night.  He called me after he walked in the house and said it may not be a place we can stay mom.  Boy was he right!  The painters have every blind down, furniture stacked on beds, and it was just unlivable,  So we are in a hotel for the week, but the house looks great!  I also had to leave my babies with my mom and dad.  Bless them for taking 2 dogs and 2 birds.  It was hard to leave them!  They think my mom is their mommy now.


So to end on a good note- Connor and I had some Wyatt time to cheer us up last night!  Thanks Abbey for thinking of us!

I will end this blog with special prayers for the people in Boston and friends and family of those that were hurt or lost.
The angels are always near to those who are grieving, to whisper to them that their loved ones are safe in the hand of God.  ~Quoted in The Angels' Little Instruction Book by Eileen Elias Freeman, 1994

"May the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."  This blessing comes from Paul's Letter to the Philippians 4:7.


I am always drawn to this Toby Keith song in times like this:

American Girls and American Guys 
We'll always stand up and salute 
We'll always recognize 
When we see Ole Glory Flying 
There's a lot of men dead 
So we can sleep in peace at night 
When we lay down our head

My daddy served in the army 
Where he lost his right eye 
But he flew a flag out in our yard 
Till the day that he died 
He wanted my mother, my brother, my sister and me 
To grow up and live happy 
In the land of the free. 

Now this nation that I love 
Has fallen under attack 
A mighty sucker punch came flying in 
From somewhere in the back 
Soon as we could see clearly 
Through our big black eye 
Man, we lit up your world 
Like the 4th of July 

Hey Uncle Sam 
Put your name at the top of his list 
And the Statue of Liberty 
Started shaking her fist 
And the eagle will fly 
And there's gonna be hell 
When you hear Mother Freedom 
Start ringing her bell 
And itll feel like the whole wide world is raining down on you 
Ahhh Brought to you Courtesy of the Red White and Blue 

Ohhh Justice will be served 
And the battle will rage 
This big dog will fight 
When you rattle his cage 
And you'll be sorry that you messed with 
The U.S. of A. 
'Cause we'll put a boot in your ass 
It's the American way 

Hey Uncle Sam 
Put your name at the top of his list 
And the Statue of Liberty 
Started shaking her fist 
And the eagle will fly 
And there's gonna be hell 
When you hear Mother Freedom 
Start ringing her bell 
And itll feel like the whole wide world is raining down on you 
Brought to you Courtesy of the Red White and Blue

Count Your Blessings and Stay Strong,  Bella