YOU'LL NEVER BELIEVE...

what I did this weekend. The Kendricks brothers from SBC have been at it again, and are preparing to shoot a new movie. Auditions were held on Saturday, and I went!! And, yes, I even auditioned. For a main role! Now those of you who know me are probably thinking, "What was she thinking???" From the first time I heard about the movie, I have felt that I was supposed to participate in this. Never before have I had any ambitions of being a movie star, and I have no theatrical experience. Thus...the audition was a flop. Of that I am certain. No call-backs for me. But that's okay. Maybe my purpose in auditioning was to make the next gal look really good! And I am perfectly okay with that. I'm certain there will be some way that I can be a part of the movie in a (much) smaller way. There's always the need for extra's. In the meantime, I have comfortably stepped back into my box, and have no plans to venture out anytime again soon...unless somebody's got a good idea for me?!?

UPDATE

You know, from time to time Oprah and Montel do shows where they re-visit past guests and topics, to give viewers an update. So I decided to join the ranks of the talk show hosts and do that on my blog. Here's the latest...

Hello? Is Ayone Out There - apparently, I'm still typing. I'm here as the long as the comments keep coming in.

Sleep Deprived - falling asleep at night is now no longer a problem. Instead, it's getting up on time that that's becoming a challenge. On Monday of this week, I overslept by almost an hour!

Confession is Good for the Soul - ummm, still an addict...

It's a Girls' Night In - when Clint was on duty last weekend, three friends and their girls came over for a High School Musical 2 premier pajama party. Fun times with the girls continue!!

America's Got Talent - and the winner is... Terry Fator. He's an awesome impersonator / ventriloquist, and definitely worthy of winning the million (if anybody is worth $1,000,000 that is). Our pick, Cas Haley, won 2nd place.

Kid-Free Weekend & Back to Status Quo - we're down to just one kid most of the time. It seems like Cassie is always off with volleyball or the BF or somewhere. Oh, the life of a teenager!! At least we have Riley to keep us entertained!

A Fond Farewell to Summer - School's back in full swing, complete with homework, lesson plans, phone calls from parents, and late nights grading papers. I did manage to squeak in some time to read a book in the pool this weekend though! :-)

Sick - all well now. 24 hours without any medicine. Praise the Lord!

I LOVE BIRTHDAYS!

August is a month jam-packed with birthdays in our family. We start with Cassie's at the beginning of the month, my mother-in-law's at the end, and a total of 9 cousins have birthdays somewhere there in the middle. It seems like every weekend we've been attending at least one birthday party. I haven't bought and wrapped so many presents in such a short period of time since Christmas!

Don't get me wrong - I love a birthday party!! I was disappointed that Cassie didn't want to celebrate with her friends this year. I love making the invitations, picking out the themes and decorations, planning the food, and all of the excitement that comes with it. I love singing "Happy Birthday" and watching the candles being blown out. I love to watch the gifts being opened and to see what everyone picked out.

I especially love MY birthday!! I love having a big fuss made over just me. Not because of any great accomplishment or achievement - simply because I'm here. I keep hinting that I want to have a real party to celebrate one of these years. Something like Putt-Putt or the bowling alley. Maybe I'll just plan it myself. I could keep it simple. Just close family and a few dozen friends. That wouldn't be too much to ask, would it?

Anyway, if I've missed you this month - HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! And just in case you're wondering...mine's only 59 days away, but then...who's counting???

SICK

I feel like one of those bobblehead toys. My head feels so heavy that sometimes I can't hold it up straight. Stuffed up. Runny nose. Ah-choo!! Box of Kleenex at my side constantly. Red nose. At least my throat doesn't hurt...anymore. Sleeping on the couch - again. Daytime cold medicine. Nighttime cold medicine. Nose spray. Stuffed up. Runny nose. How can I have both at the same time??? Makes no sense to me. Then again, I'm the same girl who can't hold her head up straight. It's okay. I'll feel better...in a week or two. :-)

A Fond Farewell to Summer

Today is officially the last day of my summer. It has been a time to relax and take a break, and I have enjoyed it thoroughly. Here's what I will remember from this summer:

• A trip for two to Disney


• A girls' beach trip to SGI with the Baker family - thanks, Penny, for the invite!


• Starting my own blog, and stalking several others - thanks, friends, for the great reading material!


• Many hours floating in the pool, reading many good books (that's what I'll miss the most)


• Way too many turkey melt sandwiches


• A cookout for 30 or so family and friends who supported my two missionaries to Peru


• Countless trips back and forth to the UC to and from volleyball practices (that's what I won't miss at all!!)


• Thousands of Kinzcash dollars earned playing some fun games


• Lots of time just hanging out with Clint - rocking on the back porch, cruising in the Jeep, running into town on some errand or another, staying up late watching movies


• Sleeping until 10:30 a.m. (OK, so that's that's what I'll miss the most)


• Torturing Riley with Regis and Kelly episodes during breakfast

However, with all that said, I have a lot to look forward to as well. A new school year brings so many new opportunities - a new classroom, new subjects to teach, new ideas to try out, new school procedures and policies to try to follow (ugh!). Most of all, a brand new group of students to teach, to pull my hair out over, and to love. I'm thankful that God has placed me where I am, and that he has blessed me with the opportunity to mold these tender lives for the next 180 school days.