Just a little Piece of Peace.

In a world of chaos and strife, you can always turn to Christ for peace.

http://mabrystudios.typepad.com/reflections_of_christ/

Enjoy this short clip from the Reflections of Christ Exhibit. One word: B-E-A-UTIFUL!

Saved By the Bell

I seem to recall a similar lapse in blogging in the not so distant past. It was right around January, coincidentally when school started up again. Oh, the start of a new school year- a.k.a. the beginning of endless chaos, grading and meetings. But I Love it...OK, maybe I like it right now... OK, maybe I can't wait until the final bell rings on Friday so I can start to enjoy my labor-less Labor day! ...More to come when I can keep my eyes open past 7:30pm.

Just Another Day in the Valley of the Sun

I got in my car the other day only to stumble on this terrifying image displayed on my dash:

Bring it on you big ball of gas!

You can still be grateful in this heat!

Roxy- the spoiled family dog.

Abreva for those pesky cold sores. This stuff is amazing!

Sofia- She's now a month old! This isn't how her face normally looks. She's just tired of all the paparazzi.

Our uber patient and marvelous realtor's! I highly recommend them to anyone.
Summer monsoon storms in AZ

In God I Trust

In keeping with tradition, James and I can usually be found eating on holidays, special occasions, etc... and this 4th of July was no exception. We started the day off with Breakfast with my family, and then just continued our feast for the remainder of the day, ending up in Casa Grande watching fire works and munching on kettle corn and licorice with the Zamora clan. Below is a rare snap shot of us in action. Normally, we don't stop long enough for someone to capture such a proud moment!

Anyway, spending time with family, endless munching and fireworks are great, but I just finished a U.S. and Arizona Constitution course and have a new found understanding and respect for the framers of the constitution. Just like the Prophets in the scriptures, these men had the future in mind and they trusted in God. On Sunday we sang The Star Spangled Banner -James thought we were at a baseball game, I was thrilled! The first verse is highly overrated, however the other verses are beautifully constructed and very powerful. I have posted them below for your reading pleasure:

O say, can you see, by the dawn's early light,What so proudly we hail'd at the twilight's last gleaming?Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thro' the perilous fight,O'er the ramparts we watch'd, were so gallantly streaming?And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,Gave proof thro' the night that our flag was still there.O say, does that star-spangled banner yet waveO'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore dimly seen thro' the mists of the deep,Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,In full glory reflected, now shines on the stream:'Tis the star-spangled banner: O, long may it waveO'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

O thus be it ever when free-men shall standBetween their lov'd home and the war's desolation;Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the heav'n-rescued landPraise the Pow'r that hath made and preserv'd us a nation!Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,And this be our motto: “In God is our trust!”And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall waveO'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

It is increasingly imperative that we put our trust in God, and do what we can to preserve this great nation. I would be remiss if I didn't have a day committed to fireworks and good American food; I need a celebration to carry me from Easter to Thanksgiving!

Here are some pics from the fireworks show:

The Manly Can Can

Don't send a lame eCard.
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There's only one Ho for me!

She's the honches to my jowls, the the flip to my flop, the heckle to my jeckle, the chap to my stick, the Burt's to my bees, the wo to my man, and the Wetzel to my pretzel! The one and only (thank goodness)... Holly! Happy stinkin' birthday Woman! Here's a look at some of our finer moments!

Pazookies at Oregano's

Being the life of the party on Halloween- I was Willy Wonka, she was a flapper. Let it be known that we both had dates! Mine was my lab partner, and Holly's was my cousin, but hey- they totally count!
Cheesecake from the Factory itself!

Eating...again! This time I think it was pancakes!
Trying on ridiculous outfits at Neiman Marcus. Holly looks angelic while I resemble a cheap hooker.

Washing our cars and blue-raspberry icee's.

Weddings...not to each other!
Another famous birthday bash in the Pope room at Bucca. Sometimes things can get a little out of hand!
This is what happens when you spend one too many Friday nights together (single and alone).
Another Friday night...Isn't this face amazing?
Another Six Flag's adventure.

Totally unplanned- the same chonie's on the same day! Don't ask me how we figured it out...

If you haven't already guess, we can usually be found near the food and drinks. Happy sipping!Sometimes we like to take jaunts on haunted ships with creepy tour guides named Derek.

The life jackets over the clothes must have been an experimental fashion statement... or preparing for a muster drill! Notice the upside down sunglasses. I apparently didn't!
The result of a digital camera with too much memory.

The morning after...

The complete anthology will be available in paperback in the spring of 2009.

The Greatest Father's Day Gift

I don't want to spoil the fun for the newest members of the parent's club, but Sofia is finally here! She came late last night (6-15-08). What a great Father's day present! As Monica was recovering, and new dad Tyler was bright-eyed in disbelief and awe, the rest of the family watched the nurse intently as she weighed, measured, poked and prodded Sofia in her first moments of life. Both Grandmas, one grandpa, 2 uncles and her favorite aunt (that's obviously me) had our noses smashed up against the glass, all vying for best view. Every time the nurse moved her, all of us would shift as well, in a sort of football huddle motion. I foresee this little girl getting all the attention she deserves!

I'm grateful! Are you?

Air Conditioning- A must in order to beat the Arizona heat!

Sonic 99 cent shakes- for a limited time only.

Finding people that live in the East valley to carpool with for my class downtown.

Flip-Flops- my summer choice of footwear .

Bath and Body Works semi-annual sale. Check out new sale items weekly!

A Stark Contrast

I have noticed somewhat of a difference in my schedule from last week to this week. I think that a play-by-play can better illustrate my point.

Last week:

• Wake-up: 5:15 am
• Drive to bus stop/eat: 6:05 am
• Arrive at bus stop: 6:23 am
• Ride bus to work (usually standing up, trying to avoid awkward stares): 6:27-7:02 am
• Run to avoid sprinklers and scary homeless man in park: 7:03 am
• Arrive at work: 7:10 am
• Respond to emails from unreasonable parents:7:10-7:30 am
• Unlock door to let hyper students in classroom: 7:35 am
• Attempt to hold once hyper students attention for last days of class: 7:45 am-12:15 pm
• Re-respond to now outraged parents: 12:15-1:00 pm
• Meeting to address meeting schedule: 1:15 pm
• Supplementary meeting to address prior meetings: 2:30 pm
• Meeting to address future meetings: 3:00pm
• Lesson plan/grade: 3:00 pm-eternity
• Arrive home: 5:45pm
• Get ready for showcase (end of the year performance): instantaneously
• Leave for Orpheum (back to Phoenix): 6:00 pm
• Ride in elevator with parents of student who failed my class: 6:45 pm
• Mingle awkwardly with parents prior to performance, while chowing down on "light meal", and stuffing goodies into my purse to keep James entertained for the evening: 6:55 pm
• Watching the 3 act showcase performance in the stiflingly hot Orpheum theater: 7:00-9:30 pm
• Escaping from the parking garage without paying: 9:40 pm
• Arrive home and crash(just to do it all again tomorrow): 10:45 pm

This week:

• Wake-up: 6:45 am-ish
  
  Do you see a slight difference? I think I may actually get to see family and friends (husband included) on a day that the banks are open! Hurray!

Oh so grateful!

This is either really late from last week, or early for this week, but here goes:

I am undeniably and utterly grateful for:

A Monday with no students
A Tuesday with no students
A Wednesday with no students
A Thursday with no students
A Friday with no students

Tomorrow night is the big Showcase production at the Orpheum and then Thursday is graduation! I can't wait to show James how talented these kids are. It is truly amazing, and a little bit scary.

Happy Days are here again

Joshua manages to make it to his 18th year without a real job

Ethan (and his hair) make it to their 14 th year
And James and I happily make it to 2 years