No Matter the Storm, the Anchor Holds

The Hubs, Buddy Roller, and Gram-Paw

He turned 80 this year. He has a boisterous laugh, is quite the character, and he is full of vigor and vitality. He is wise, very generous, and has a warm spirit. Of course he has his quirky ways too, who doesn't? He does not use a smart phone and he loves completing Sudoku puzzles from the newspaper. For the more than 20 years I have known him, he has very much been like a father to me. He is my father-in-law or "Gram-Paw" as Buddy Roller affectionately calls him...

The Irony of Board Games

The Settlers of Catan - My most favorite so far :-)

This is the story of
How board games have become a very
Enjoyable part of my life.

I've played Monopoly, Scrabble to name a few...though
Reading and watching movies were all that I knew.
One day that would change as I'm about to tell you,
Never in a million years did I think this could come true.
You see, we met a friendly couple and now things are like new. By exposing us to board games, they've broadened our view.

         Ticket to Ride

Over the past year, we developed a fellowship.
From The Settlers of Catan and Ticket to Ride, from Bang to Pandemic we've grown a friendship.

Both humble and generous they are.
Over here or over there, it matters not.
Around the table is where we most often end up.
Rarely, I played board games before I met them.
Daily is how often I now want to play them.

Pandemic - Great game for a cooperative and collaborative group

Games I had never heard of, seen, or even dreamed I would like,
And now it seems I can't wait for the next time; I'm psyched!
Me? Loving and playing these games?
Enthusiastically and eagerly? Yes!
So thank you Jason and Anita for sharing your love of these really fun and entertaining games.

Bang - Another favorite :-)

Tickle Bus

"Tickle bus, tickle bus!!!" squeals Buddy Roller from the back seat.
Thanks to The Hubs, morning trips to preschool are more entertaining than ever.
I don't know about you, but I'm tickled happy just hearing the excitement in my son's voice every day.
It all started a couple of years ago when The Hubs wanted an amusing, yet educational, way to entertain Buddy Roller while driving him to school.

The Hubs came up with tickle bus...an enjoyable competition to see who could count the most yellow buses on the way to school.
With each bus counted, Buddy Roller could high-five his dad, and The Hubs could tickle his son which would result in infectious laughter.
Not only was this game fun, but Buddy Roller was also learning to count, add and subtract.
Now years later, even I have joined in the game of tickle bus.
We're having fun and creating memories that will, no doubt, last a lifetime.

About Me

Being a wife, mother of a young child, and a teacher, keeps me pretty busy. Time often eludes me. I find myself wishing for an extra day every weekend. Don't you? When I turned 40, over a month ago, I decided to live my life with more meaning and intention. I don't just want to exist; I want to truly enjoy living.  I want to have no regrets; I want to make time for the things I enjoy.

This blog is a result of that. I love to write and hope to become a better writer by blogging.  I also love taking pictures of the people I love, eating out, and sharing my life experiences with others who are willing to listen. This blog is just that, my life through my lens.

I am a lucky girl as I'm married to an incredible man (The Hubs). We met in high school and have been together ever since (23 years and counting).  We have an amazing son (Buddy Roller) who fills our hearts, and home, with so much joy. I finally understand what everyone was trying to tell me...kids do change your life and for the better! I also have the honor, and one of the most important jobs in the world, of teaching kids every day.

I am trying to live my best life possible. That means growing closer to God, being the biggest cheerleader for The Hubs, and a super-mom to Buddy Roller.  Super-mom doesn't mean, in any way, I can, or want, to do it all. I can't. But it means I will always be my son's biggest advocate throughout his life, making sure he has better than I did growing up. As a teacher, I want to continue to motivate and inspire students (my kids) to achieve their best. As a daughter, sister, friend, and all the roles I have accumulated thus far, I hope to grow, learn, become a better me, and have a life filled with health, prosperity, joy, peace, and lots and lots of laughter. I hope you will share this journey with me.

In order to learn more about me, I thought I would share this list with you.  

1. I am ambidextrous.
2. Trying new restaurants is a hobby of mine; this girl loves to eat.
3. Movies...I would watch one a day if I could.
4. If I could sleep in every day, I would. I am not a morning person.
5. I could eat ice-cream, or frozen yogurt, every day...even in the winter.
6. Three things make me really cranky...being hungry, tired, and waiting for people who are late.
7. I enjoy the quiet, and I like alone time.  I think it's because I spend all day with lots of children.
8. As a teacher at a Title I school, I think parents need to be much more involved in their child's education.
9. I so wish I could sing. Me at the karaoke bar? Not such a good idea! Trust me!
10. I was born and raised in Jamaica; I left at the age of 14.
11. My father's infidelity has been my deepest heartbreak; it, among other things, ruined our family.  After my parents divorced, I didn't talk to my father for ten years. We are slowly starting to communicate again.
12. I still get emotional when I see dads and their daughters...makes me miss what should have been.
13. I wish I had another child; I feel sad that Buddy Roller will go through life without a sibling. 
14. After hearing it for so many, many years, I finally accept the fact that I have great hair.
15. I secretly wish I could be in a hair commercial. Just kidding! Not really.
16. I hate lazy people. Okay hate is a strong word. I don't like lazy people.
17. I have a heightened sense of smell. Aromas are good, but odors from people and things...not so good. The Hubs often jokes that I can smell next week! Ha!
18. I have three pet peeves when it comes to children, especially my Buddy Roller - long fingernails, a snotty or crusty nose, and "high water" pants!!!
19. I have a habit of cutting people off when speaking. It's just that I get so excited sometimes when talking.  I need to break this bad habit.
20. I had a humbling experience once...in the middle of the day...during work hours!!! Though no one ever found out that day (except The Hubs), it is still embarrassing to me. Let's just say I was on antibiotics at the time. Those drugs can be harmful!!!That's all I'm going to say. The thought still makes me cringe!

Two Things

Number one. It's a known fact that teachers do not make nearly as much money as they deserve. I teach.  I can attest to that. I work at a Title I school and that means my students, who I love to refer to as "my kids," don't have a lot, and their parents don't have a lot...which means I, and the other teachers at my school, have to dig into our pockets and purchase the things our kids need to be successful. Some of my kids come to school without a notebook and without a  pencil.  As a result, we, the teachers, have to provide these things. We do.

So imagine my delight when I found out about this organization called Kids in Need. They are based in Atlanta and, they are a free store for educators. You heard me right. FREE. That means educators, like me, get to shop for school supplies. For FREE!!! In order to qualify to shop at Kids in Need, your school has to have at least 80% of students enrolled in a free and reduced lunch program. At my school, that number is at least 90%. So, after receiving many emails from this organization and several nudges from my co-teacher, Terri, we decided to check it out.

Terri and I arrived at Kids in Need just before 11 a.m. this morning. We signed in, showed our ID's, and received a clipboard with an alphabetized list of all the items in the store. We were given the maximum amount we were allowed to take for each item and, we were also given a shopping cart (I think the carts were from Target). Then we were off to shop for about 40 minutes; they do give you a time limit. You name it, they had it: pencils, pens, markers, copy paper, construction paper, glue sticks, notebooks, notebook paper, paperclips, hand sanitizer, book bags, folders, binders, books, and much more.  And to top that, because we brought our own boxes (which they tell you ahead of time), we were able to "spin the wheel" for a free teacher prize. We left with four boxes of school supplies all FREE plus two additional boxes filled with 40 pouches each of travel size toiletries that we will give to our school's clinic for our students.  Final words…every teacher who qualifies needs to take advantage of this worthy organization. Do it. It's worth it.

Number two. You gotta eat after shopping, right? And in case you don't already know this about me, I love to eat! Kids in Need gave us some really good recommendations to some nearby restaurants. We decided to try Osteria del Figo on the Westside. This was a first for both Terri and me. 

We were not disappointed! After mulling over their menu of home-made and freshly prepared salads, sauces, pastas, paninis, and much more, we came to an agreement. 

We resolved to try the crab meat ravioli with Pecorino Romano cheese and cream sauce with lemon zest, chicken Marsala and mushroom ravioli with a wild mushroom cream sauce, and for an appetizer we went for the spinaci...spinach with roasted garlic and walnut on toasted ciabatta bread. It was all so very delicious. 

What a day of FREE shopping, GOOD food and GREAT company.